Abstract

We present the spectral and nonlinear optical properties of $\mathrm{ZnO}–{\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ nanocomposites prepared by colloidal chemical synthesis. Obvious enhancement of ultraviolet (UV) emission of the samples is observed, and the strongest UV emission of a typical $\mathrm{ZnO}–{\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ nanocomposite is over three times stronger than that of pure ZnO. The nonlinearity of the silica colloid is low, and its nonlinear response can be improved by making composites with ZnO. These nanocomposites show self-defocusing nonlinearity and good nonlinear absorption behavior. The observed nonlinear absorption is explained through two photon absorption followed by weak free carrier absoption and nonlinear scattering. The nonlinear refractive index and the nonlinear absorption increase with increasing ZnO volume fraction and can be attributed to the enhancement of exciton oscillator strength. $\mathrm{ZnO}–{\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ is a potential nanocomposite material for the UV light emission and for the development of nonlinear optical devices with a relatively small limiting threshold.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

Electroluminescence of ZnO nanocrystal in sputtered ZnO-SiO₂ nanocomposite light-emitting devices

Jiun-Ting Chen, Wei-Chih Lai, Chi-Heng Chen, Ya-Yu Yang, Jinn-Kong Sheu, and Li-Wen Lai
Opt. Express 19(12) 11873-11879 (2011)

Chemical bath synthesis of Ag₂S, CuS, and CdS nanoparticle-polymer nanocomposites: structural, linear, and nonlinear optical characteristics

Ali Fatemi, Milad Rasouli, Mahmood Ghoranneviss, Davoud Dorranian, and Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov
Opt. Mater. Express 12(7) 2697-2710 (2022)

Sputtered ZnO–SiO₂ nanocomposite light-emitting diodes with flat-top nanosecond laser treatment

Jiun-Ting Chen, Wei-Chih Lai, Chi-Heng Chen, Ya-Yu Yang, Jinn-Kong Sheu, Kun-Wei Lin, and Li-Wen Lai
Opt. Express 20(18) 19635-19642 (2012)

Effects of Mn doping on the structural, linear, and nonlinear optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles

Fahimeh Abrinaei and Nasibeh Molahasani
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 35(8) 2015-2022 (2018)

Influence of Ho³⁺ doping on the structural and optical characteristics of ZnO–ZrO₂ nanocomposites synthesized by the solution combustion method

M. K. Musembi, F. B. Dejene, I. Ahemen, and K. G. Tshabalala
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 37(11) A266-A276 (2020)