Optical Kerr effect exhibited by carbon nanotubes and carbon/metal nanohybrid materials

•Structural modification of carbon nanotubes is reported.•Noticeable enhancement of Optical Kerr effect in nanohybrids was obtained.•Optomechanical action of carbon nanotubes was estimated.•Contrast in the two-photon absorption of carbon-based materials was observed.

Structural modification of carbon nanotubes in combination with metallic nanoparticles is reported. An enhancement in the nonlinear optical refraction of multi-wall carbon nanotubes by the incorporation of platinum nanoparticles was observed. Comparative results were analyzed taking into account the participation of single-wall carbon nanotubes that originate a decrease in the nonlinear optical response of the multi-wall carbon nanotubes integrating a thin film. A Nd:YAG laser system featuring 532 nm wavelength with 4 ns pulse duration in a two-wave mixing experiment was employed for exploring the studied optical nonlinearities of the samples. The contribution of optical processes to mechanical characteristics dependent on high optical irradiance in carbon nanotubes was described. A variation in the mass density associated to the optically irradiated tubes allowed us to calculate the change in Young's modulus in a thin film configuration. The estimation of an opto-mechanical phenomenon was based on the evaluation of the nonlinearity of index responsible for the optical Kerr effect. According to Raman and optical evaluations, the inclusion of metallic nanoparticles in carbon structures results in a modification of surface that also gives origin to noticeable optical Kerr nonlinearities. Potential applications for developing laser-induced controlled opto-mechanical nanohybrid systems can be contemplated.