Very High Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Activities of Intrazeolite PbS Quantum Dots

Giant Self-Kerr Nonlinearity in the Metal Nanoparticles-Graphene Nanodisks-Quantum Dots Hybrid Systems Under Low-Intensity Light Irradiance

Hybrid nanocomposites can provide a promising platform for integrated optics. Optical nonlinearity can significantly widen the range of applications of such structures. In the present paper, a theoretical investigation is carried out by solving the density matrix equations derived for a metal nanoparticles-graphene nanodisks-quantum dots hybrid system interacting with weak probe and strong control fields, in the steady state. We derive analytical expressions for linear and third-order nonlinear susceptibilities of the probe field. A giant self-Kerr nonlinear index of refraction is obtained in the optical region with relatively low light intensity. The optical absorption spectrum of the system demonstrates electromagnetically induced transparency and amplification without population inversion in the linear optical response arising from the negative real part of the polarizabilities for the plasmonic components at the energy of the localized surface plasmon resonance of the graphene nanodisks induced by the probe field. We find that the self-Kerr nonlinear optical properties of the system can be controlled by the geometrical features of the system, the size of metal nanoparticles and the strength of the control field. The controllable self-Kerr nonlinearities of hybrid nanocomposites can be employed in many interesting applications of modern integrated optics devices allowing for high nonlinearity with relatively low light intensity.

Confining the polymerization degree of graphitic carbon nitride in porous zeolite-Y and its luminescence

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has aroused broad interest in the field of photocatalysis and luminescence as a kind of metal-free semiconductor with a suitable band gap of ∼2.7 eV. The properties largely depend on the polymerization degree of g-C₃N₄. This research exploits the nanocages of zeolite-Y to confine the polymerization of the melamine monomer to form g-C₃N₄. The composites are achieved via a facile two-step method, i.e., melamine–Na⁺ ion exchange reaction in the cage of the zeolite and subsequent calcination. BET measurement and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirm that the g-C₃N₄ is encapsulated in zeolite-Y, and the polymerization degree can be controlled by the melamine contents exchanged with Na⁺ in the cages of zeolite-Y. Photoluminescence and vibration spectroscopy also show the features of g-C₃N₄ with different polymerization degrees in the zeolite-Y composites. This research gives a perspective of fabricating subnanoscale g-C₃N₄ in porous zeolite, which may find potential applications in photocatalysis and optoelectronics.

The composites of porous zeolite-Y and graphitic carbon nitride can be synthesized via a facile two-step method, and the polymerization degree of the latter can be confined by the former.

γ-Radiolysis preparation of nanometer-sized cadmium sulphide quantum dots stabilized in nanozeolite X and ZSM-5

The radiolytic preparation of CdS nanoparticles stabilized in colloidal zeolites is presented. Nanosized zeolites with different structural frameworks, i.e. FAU and MFI, are used as host materials.

Template-free syntheses of hierarchical PbS microstructures using a new sulphur source and their time-dependent morphological evolution and photocatalytic properties

Template-free PbS microstructures composed of nanocrystals exhibiting time-dependent morphological evolution from cubes to dendrites were synthesised by one-pot solvothermal route using DBDS as a new temperature controlled in situ source of S²⁻ ions.

High-order nonlinear optical response of a polymer nanocomposite film incorporating semiconducotor CdSe quantum dots

We report on observation of high-order optical nonlinearities in our recently developed photopolymerizable semiconductor CdSe quantum dot (QD)-polymer nanocomposite films at various volume fractions of CdSe QDs as high as 0.91 vol.% (3.6 wt.%). We performed Z-scan and degenerate multi-wave mixing (DMWM) measurements using a 532-nm picosecond laser delivering single 35 ps pulses at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. Using the uniformly cured polymer nanocomposite films, we observed the third- and fifth-order nonlinear optical effects in closed-aperture Z-scan measurements by which it was found that saturable nonlinear absorption (light-induced transparency) and large negative nonlinear refraction were induced. We also measured dependences of the effective third- and fifth-order nonlinear refraction constants on CdSe QD volume fraction. Based on the Maxwell-Garnett model, we estimated the third- and fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of CdSe QD and discussed a contribution of the third-order effect to the fifth-order one due to the cascaded (local-field) effect. Coexistence of the third- and fifth-order nonlinear refraction was also confirmed by DMWM.

Photovoltaic effects of CdS and PbS quantum dots encapsulated in zeolite Y

Zeolite Y films (0.35-2.5 μm), into which CdS and PbS quantum dots (QDs) were loaded, were grown on ITO glass. The CdS QD-loaded zeolite Y films showed a photovoltaic effect in the electrolyte solution consisting of Na(2)S (1 M) and NaOH (0.1 M) with Pt-coated F-doped tin oxide glass as the counter electrode. In contrast, the PbS QD-loaded zeolite Y films exhibited a negligible PV effect. This contrasting behavior was proposed to arise from the large difference in driving force for the electron transfer from S(2-) in the solution to the hole in the valence band of QDs, with the former being much larger (~2 eV) than the latter (~1 eV). In the case of CdS QD-loaded zeolite Y with a loaded amount of CdS of 6.3 per unit cell, the short circuit current, open circuit voltage, fill factor, and efficiency were 0.3 mA cm(-2), 423 V, 28, and 0.1%, respectively, under the AM 1.5, 100 mW cm(-2) condition. This cell was stable for more than 18 days of continuous measurements. A large (3-fold) increase in overall efficiency was observed when PbS QD-loaded zeolite Y on ITO glass was used as the counter electrode. This phenomenon suggests that the uphill electron transfer from ITO glass to S in the solution is facilitated by the photoassisted pumping of the potential energy of the electron in ITO glass to the level that is higher than the reduction potential of S by PbS QDs. Under this condition, the incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value at 398 nm was 42% and the absorbed-photon-to-current conversion efficiency (APCE) value at 405 nm was 82%. The electrolyte-mediated interdot charge transport within zeolite films is concluded to be responsible for the overall current flow.

Contribution of dipolar interactions to third-order nonlinear dielectric susceptibility of nanocomposites

We consider an ensemble of identical semiconductor nanoparticles randomly embedded into dielectric matrix. The nanoparticles are polarized by the laser irradiation having linear polarization. The contribution of dipole-dipole interactions to third-order dielectric susceptibility is calculated by using mean random field method. It is shown that this contribution always has a negative sign, and it can be comparable with the values of optical nonlinearity observed experimentally.

Subnanometer CdS clusters self-confined in MFI-type zeolite nanoparticles and thin films

One-step colloidal synthesis of subnanometer CdS clusters in hydrophobic MFI-type zeolite crystals in the presence of 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS), cadmium precursor, and tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) is performed. MPS is used as the bifunctional agent, as it hydrolyzes fast, cross-links with the silica framework, and provides thiol groups to anchor Cd(2+), and subsequently forms CdS clusters. The MFI crystals with the thiol groups not only function as a nanochamber for the formation of CdS but also prevent further moisture-induced agglomeration of the clusters. Direct evidence for the presence of asymmetric shaped subnanometer CdS clusters aligned in the channels of MFI crystals stabilized in suspensions and films is provided by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD), and photoluminescence spectra (emission < 350 nm). The CdS clusters are stable for months in colloidal suspensions and films without any particular precaution against water. The hydrophobicity of the MFI zeolite and the presence of the organic template in the channels favor the stabilization of small CdS clusters, which are available for further applications.

Magnetic field-induced off-resonance third-order optical nonlinearity of iron oxide nanoparticles incorporated mesoporous silica thin films during heat treatment

Highly dispersed and uniform Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles (NPs) have been incorporated into the pore channels of SBA-15 mesoporous silica thin films (MSTFs). And such Fe(2)O(3) NPs incorporated MSTFs did not show detectable nonlinear optical (NLO) signals at off-resonance wavelength 1064 nm by Z-scan technique. However after a vacuum heat treatment at 800 degrees C for 1 h under 6 T magnetic field, the Fe(2)O(3) NPs incorporated MSTFs with very low Fe content (0.8 approximately 1.5 at.%) presented distinctive NLO signals with chi(3) value in an order of 10(-10) esu. We proposed the physical reason for the NLO property generation to be the magnetic domain orientation of the iron oxide NPs incorporated within the pore channels of the MSTFs by the magnetic field heat treatment.