Optical Properties of ZnFe2O4—SiO2 Granular Films Prepared by Radio—Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

We report on the optical properties of ZnFe2O4-SiO2 granular films prepared on quartz substrates by the radio-frequency magnetron sputtering method.Post-annealing was performed at different temperatures under flow oxygen atmosphere.The morphology and Structures of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray different line types in the optical absorption curves of ZnFe2O4-SiO2 granular films.The critical transition of line types occurs when ZnFe2O4 changes from amorphous to crystalline,and the transition temperature increases with the increasing content of ZnFe2O4.There is an obvious blueshift of the optical absorption edge of the granular films with the decreasing annealing temperature.     

Local structure and optical absorption characteristic investigation on Fe doped TiO2 nanoparticles

The local structures and optical absorption characteristics of Fe doped Ti O2 nanoparticles synthesized by the sol-gel method were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy(XAFS) and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy(UV-Vis). XRD patterns show that all Fe-doped Ti O2 samples have the characteristic anatase structure. Accurate Fe and Ti K-edge EXAFS analysis further reveal that all Fe atoms replace Ti atoms in the anatase lattice. The analysis of UV-Vis data shows a red shift to the visible range. According to the above results, we claim that substitutional Fe atoms lead to the formation of structural defects and new intermediate energy levels appear, narrowing the band gap and extending the optical absorption edge towards the visible region.     

Indium doping effect on properties of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by sol–gel method

Pure ZnO and indium-doped ZnO(In–ZO) nanoparticles with concentrations of In ranging from 0 to 5% are synthesized by a sol–gel processing technique. The structural and optical properties of ZnO and In–ZO nanoparticles are characterized by different techniques. The structural study confirms the presence of hexagonal wurtzite phase and indicates the incorporation of In~(3+) ions at the Zn~(2+) sites. However, the optical study shows a high absorption in the UV range and an important reflectance in the visible range. The optical band gap of In–ZnO sample varies between 3.16 e V and 3.22 e V. The photoluminescence(PL) analysis reveals that two emission peaks appear: one is located at 381 nm corresponding to the near-band-edge(NBE) and the other is observed in the green region. The aim of this work is to study the effect of indium doping on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles.     

Influence of Ambient Atmosphere on the Plasmon Resonance Absorption of Ag／SiOx（0≤x≤2） Nanocomposite Film

Nanocomposite films consisting of nanosized Ag particles embedded in partially oxidized amorphous Si-containing matrices were prepared by radio frequency magnetron co-sputtering deposition.We studied the influence of ambient atmosphere during the preparation and heat-treatment of Ag/SiOx(0≤x≤2) nanocomposite film on its optical absorption properties.We found that the plasmon resonance absorption peak shifts to shorter wavelengths with the increasing oxygen content in the SiOx matrix.The analysis indicates that the potential barrier between Ag nanoparticles and SiOx matrix increases with the increasing x value,which will induce the surface resonance state to shift to higher energy.The electrons in the vicinity of the Fermi level of Ag nanoparticles must absorb more energy to be transferred to the surface resonance state with the increasing x value.It was also found that the plasmon resonance absorption peaks of the samples annealed in different ambient atmospheres are located at about the same position.This is because the oxidation surface layer is dense enough to prevent the oxygen from peretration into the sample to oxidize the silicon in the inner layer.     

Microstructural and Optical Absorption Properties of Cu—MgF2 Nanoparticle Cermet Film

We examine the microstructural and optical absorption spectra of 10-30vol% Cu-MgF2 nanoparticle cermet films prepared by co-evaporation in vacuum.The results show that the Cu-MgF2 cermet films are mainly composed of the amorphous MgF2 matrix with embedded fcc Cu nanoparticles of average size 12-24nm.The results also show that the optical absorption of the films decreases as the wavelength increases in the range of 200-800nm.The surface plasmon resonance absorption peaks of Cu nanoparticles in 10,20 and 30vol% Cu-MgF2 films appear at 578,588 and 606 nm,respectively.The interband transition absorption of Cu starts from 590nm downwards.Based on the Maxwell-Garnett theory,the experimental optical absorption properties of the films have been quantitatively evaluated.     

Effect of Mg and Fe Doping on Optical Absorption of LiNbO3 Crystal through First Principles Calculations

Using first principles calculations, we investigate the structural, optical, and electronic properties of LiNbO3 （LN） and M doped LN （M=Mg, Fe）. The density of states are calculated to analyze the effect of doping Mg and Fe ions on the absorption spectra and electronic properties of LN. The results show an ultraviolet shift in the optical absorption edge of Mg-doped LN compared with that of intrinsic LN. On the contrary, the absorption edge of Fe-doped LN crystal reveals a red shift. The optical absorption spectra show an improved optical response in the visible range for Mg-doped LN, which significantly differs from that obtained for Fe-doped LN. The electronic excitations from the valence band to the conduction band of LN leads to an improved optical absorption response in the visible region as observed experimentally. The obvious changes of the doped LN crystal are found in some cases, which provide a helpful guide for preparing doped LN crystal.     

EXAFS research on Nd2O3 nanoparticles modified by AOT

The Nd2O3 nanoparticles which modified by AOT was prepared using micrioemulsion method in the system of water /xylene.L3 edge XAFS was used to determine the difference of the local structure arund Nd^3 ion and the electrical structure between the nanocystalline Nd2O3 and the coarse bulk microcrystalline Nd2O3.It was found that Nd-O distance increased with the form of nanocrystallite and the intensity of absorption edge also enhanced at the same time.     

Theoretical investigation on near-infrared and visible absorption spectra of nanometallic aluminium with oxide coating in nanoenergetic materials: size and shape effects

The effects of metal core dimension, oxide shell thickness and ellipsoid aspect ratio of Al-Al2O3 core-shell nanoparticles on the near-infrared and visible absorption spectra of nanocomposite Al-Al2O3/nitrocellulose（NC） film are investigated by numerical calculations. Both the size-dependent interband transitions and frequency-dependent free electron damping of the nanometallic aluminium are taken into account in the calculations. Oxidation effect of nanoaluminium is also analysed. It is shown that oxidation may enhance but may also reduce the optical absorption, depending on the excited light energy and initial dimension of nanoparticle. Metal core size and excited light energy dominate the absorption characteristic. The absorption ability of ellipsoidal nanoparticles is larger than that of spheroidal nanoparticles and increases by the square index as the aspect ratio increases. These calculations will provide some significant theoretical guidance for the preparation and laser ignition of nanoenergetic materials.     

Enhanced Nonlinear Absorption and Optical Limiting Properties of Organic Material ZnTBP—CA—PhR in a DA—ET System

Nonlinear absorption of the organic material Zn-tetrabenzoporphin-cronicacid-phenonxy resin(ZnTBP-CA-PhR) in the donor-acceptor energy-transfer(DA-ET) system is investigated by the irradiation of Ar^ laser on its solid film.A reverse saturable absorption and an enhanced second reverse saturable absorption called the rereverse saturable absorption are observed in a visible wavelength range.The high performance of optical limiting of the sample possessing low input threshold and an over 95% linear transmission ratio are observed.The physical mechanism of rereverse satruable absorption is analysed by a five-level rate-equation simulating.According to the Huygens wave diffraction principle and the combination of Kerr effect,thermo-optic effect and optical absorption variation,a mathematical model for the optical limiting of ZnTBP-CA-PhR film limiter is established and the theoretical simulating gives a good agreement with the experimental results.     

Tailoring optical properties of TiO2 in silica glass for limiting applications

We present the linear and nonlinear optical studies on TiO2-SiO2 nanocomposites with varying compositions. Opti- cal band gap of the material is found to vary with the amount of SiO2 in the composite. The phenomenon of two-photon absorption （TPA） in TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposites has been studied using open aperture Z-scan technique. The nanocom- posites show better nonlinear optical properties than pure TiO2, which can be attributed to the surface states and weak dielectric confinement of TiO2 nanoparticles by SiO2 matrix. The nanocomposites are thermally treated and similar studies are performed. The anatase form of TiO2 in the nanocomposites shows superior properties relative to the amorphous and rutile counterpart. The involved mechanism is explained by rendering the dominant role played by the excitons in the TiO2 nanoparticles.     

Structural Characteristics of Cerium Oxide Nanocrystals Prepared by the Microemulsion Method

The aim of this work is to investigate the microstructure development of erium oxide nanocrystal,prepared by the microemulsion process,as a function of annealing temperature in air.Combined with the HRTEM and the thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis in air.Combined withthe HRTEm and the thremogravimetric-differential thermal analysis(TG-DTA),the XRD patterns reveal that the sample annealed at 623 K is amorphous,and the formation of cerium oxide nanocrystal occurs above 773 K.The local structural and electronic properties in the nanocrystallization process are probed by X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) at the Ce L3 edge.It is found that the phase structure changes from triclinic to cubic (CeO2),and the electroic structure changes from Ce^3 to Ce^4 upon increasing the annealing temperature.     

Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Hydrogen-Doped Amorphous GaAs Thin Films

Amorphous CaAs films are deposited on substrates of quartz glass and sificon by rf magnetron sputtering technique in different gas ambient. First, the amorphous structure of the prepared samples is identified by x-ray diffraction. Second, analysis by radial distribution function and pair correlation function method is established to characterize the microstructure of the samples. Then, the content and bond type of hydrogen are analysed using Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. It is found that the bonded hydrogen content increases with increasing partial pressure PH of H2. However, the hydrogen content saturates at PH 〉 1 × 10^-1 Pa. Hydrogen addition shills the optical absorption edge to higher energy, decreases the dark conductivity and improves the photo-sensitivity. The optical gap, dark conductivity and photo-sensitivity of the films are dependent on the bonded hydrogen content. These results demonstrate that hydrogen has obvious passivation effects on rf sputtered amorphous GaAs thin films.     

Nonlinear Electrical Characteristics of Antimony and Copper Doped Tin Oxide Based Varistor Ceramics

The novel CuO-doped dense tin oxide varistor ceramics are investigated. The densification of tin oxide varistor ceramics could be greatly improved by doping copper oxide additives. The introduction of antimony additives into a SnO2. CuO ceramic system would make it possess excellent nonlinearity. The sample doped with 0.05 mol% Sb2 03 possesses the highest nonlinearity coefficient （α = 17.9） and the lowest leakage current density （ JL = 52μA cm^-2） among all the samples. A modified defect barrier model is introduced to explain the formation of the grainboundary barrier. The nonlinear behaviour of （Cu, Sb）-doped SnO2 varistor system could be explained by the barrier model.     

XANES study on the valence transitions in cerium oxide nanoparticles

The aim of this work is determination of Ce environment and valence state in Cerium oxide nanopartices prepared by the microemulsion method. X-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements at Ce L3 edge were performed on the nanoparticles as a function of annealing temperature,ranging from 298K to 873K under air condition.The experimental results support the conclusion that Ce ion,in the investigated systems,is in trivalence state when the annealing temperature is below 473K.As the temperature increases up to 623K,the XANEs spectrum shows the coexistence of Ce^3 and Ce^4 states.When the temperature is higher than 623K,the spectra become identical to that of CeO2 with a distinct double-peak structure,corresponding to the Ce^4 state.     

Nonlinear optical switching and all-figures of merit in Bi2S3-xSex/PMMA nanocomposite films investigated by Z scan under visible CW laser

Bi2S3-xSex/poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)nanocomposite films were prepared using microwave assisted synthesis with different compositions of x.Crystal structure,surface morphology,and optical properties were investigated to characterize the prepared nanocomposite films.The crystallinity and optical band gap of the prepared Bi2S3-xSex/PMMA were affected by x.The prepared samples showed a blue shift in the absorption edge.The laser power dependent nonlinear refraction and absorption of Bi2S3-xSex/PMMA nanocomposite films were investigated by using the Z-scan technique.The optical nonlinearity of the nanocomposite films exhibited switchover from negative nonlinear refraction to positive nonlinear refraction to negative nonlinear refraction effects,and from saturable absorption to reverse saturable absorption to saturable absorption with an increase and decrease in the composition.An interesting all-optical figure of merit was reported to assess the nanocomposite films for a practical device.It was calculated that the device all-figures of merit were based on the nonlinear response,which is important for the all-optical switching device.The results demonstrate that the optimized all-optical figures of merit can be achieved by adjusting the composition and input laser power,which can be used for the design of different all-photonic devices,and the results of nonlinear switching behavior can open new possibilities for using the nanocomposite films in laser Q-switching and mode-locking.     

optical, Structural and Laser-Induced Damage Threshold Properties of HfO2 Thin Films Prepared by Electron Beam Evaporation

We prepare HfO2 thin films by electron beam evaporation technology. The samples are annealed in air after deposition. With increasing annealing temperature, it is found that the absorption of the samples decreases firstly and then increases. Also, the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) increases firstly and then decreases.When annealing temperature is 473 K, the sample has the highest LID T of 2.17 J/cm^2, and the lowest absorption of 18ppm. By investigating the optical and structural characteristics and their relations to LIDT, it is shown that the principal factor dominating the LIDT is absorption.     

Enhanced optical absorption by Ag nanoparticles in a thin film Si solar cell

Thin film solar cells have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of photovoltaics. Light trapping is crucial to such a thin film silicon solar cell because of a low absorption coefficient due to its indirect band gap. In this paper, we investigate the suitability of surface plasmon resonance Ag nanoparticles for enhancing optical absorption in the thin film solar cell. For evaluating the transmittance capability of Ag nanoparticles and the conventional antireflection film, an enhanced transmittance factor is introduced. We find that under the solar spectrum AM1.5, the transmittance of Ag nanoparticles with radius over 160 nm is equivalent to that of conventional textured antireflection film, and its effect is better than that of the planar antireflection film. The influence of the surrounding medium is also discussed.     

Nonlinear optical properties of Au/PVP composite thin films

Colloidal Au and poly（vinylpyrrolidone） （PVP） composite thin films are fabricated by spin-coating method. Linear optical absorption measurements of the Au/PVP composite films indicate an absorption peak around 530 nm due to the surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles. Nonlinear optical properties are studied using standard Z-scan technique, and experimental results show large optical nonlinearities of the Au/PVP composite films. A large value of χ^（3）/α up to 0.56× 10-^10esu·cm is obtained, which is comparable to the best values reported in metal/oxlde composite films.     

Energy Squeeze of Ultrashort Light Pulse by Kerr Nonlinear Photonic Crystals

Self-phase modulation can efficiently shape the spectrum of an optical pulse propagating along an optical material with Kerr nonlinearity. In this work we show that a one-dimensional Kerr nonlinear photonic crystal can impose anomalous spectrum modulation to a high-power ultrashort light pulse. The spectrum component at the photonic band gap edge can be one order of magnitude enhanced in addition to the ordinary spectrum broadening due to self-phase modulation. The enhancement is strictly pinned at the band gap edge by changing the sample length, the intensity or central wavelength of the incident pulse. The phenomenon is attributed to band gap induced enhancement of light-matter interaction.     

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Study on Surface Roughness and Optical Property of AZO Films Prepared by Direct-Current Magnetron Reactive Sputtering Method

All as-deposited AZO films by direct current magnetron reactive sputtering （DC-MS） exhibit ZnO characteristic （002） and （103） diffraction peaks. Especially, AZO films prepared at 200℃ show a strongest （002） c-axis pref- erential orientation due to the minimum stress along the （002） orientation. The results show that larger stress easily induces a rougher surface. The film real and imaginary parts of dielectric constants show a sharp changes near the optical absorption edge due to the interband direct transition. The film blue and red shifts of the optical absorption edge can be explained in terms of the change of Free-electron concentration in as-deposited AZO films.