Investigation of the second hyperpolarizability of Ru-alkynyl complexes by z-scan and nonlinear scattering

Nick Van Steerteghem, Stijn Van Cleuvenbergen, Noor Aisyah Ahmad Shah, Mark G. Humphrey, Thierry Verbiest, Koen Clays

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Present-day methods for determining the performance of third-order nonlinear optical materials include Z-scan, degenerate four-wave mixing and third-harmonic generation (THG). All these techniques possess severe drawbacks; for example, in THG, since all media (air and glass walls of the cell) present a third-order effect, eliminating these contributions requires careful, complex analysis or use of vacuum chambers. We have developed nonlinear scattering as a sensitive, straightforward technique for determining the second hyperpolarizability of samples in solution. Herein, we will for the first time show the applicability of the technique to measure organometallic Ru-complexes, optimized for high nonlinear responses. The investigated compounds showed a significant second hyperpolarizability |γ|, ranging from 1.1 for the least efficient to 2.8 · 10-33 esu for the most efficient molecule, and comparable to fullerene C60 in thin films. It was deemed infeasible to extract hyperpolarizabilities using a high-frequency femtosecond laser source by a modified z-scan setup, which, in contrast to nonlinear scattering, could not account for the high degree of thermal lensing present in the investigated compounds.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationLight Manipulating Organic Materials and Devices III
    EditorsJoy E. Haley, Manfred Eich, Jon A. Schuller, Jean-Michel Nunzi
    PublisherSPIE
    ISBN (Electronic)9781510602694
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016
    EventLight Manipulating Organic Materials and Devices III - San Diego, United States
    Duration: 31 Aug 20161 Sept 2016

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
    Volume9939
    ISSN (Print)0277-786X
    ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

    Conference

    ConferenceLight Manipulating Organic Materials and Devices III
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CitySan Diego
    Period31/08/161/09/16

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