Homogenous smooth sol gel films doped with organic compounds for nonlinear optics

The demand for protection of various types of optical sensors from laser-beam pulses has resulted in the search for optical limiting devices that have the property of being transparent at low intensity of light (normal light), but no transparent towards high intensity (laser) light. Organic material with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties as reverse saturable absorption and two-photon absorption can be used for optical limiting with the advantage of a very fast response and self-activation. A promising approach in the fabrication of thin films by low cost/easy use deposition methods for second-order nonlinear optics is sol–gel technique. The present paper reports on the sol–gel synthesis of some pyrazolone derivative doped SiO2–P2O5 smooth and homogenous films (Root mean square roughness (Rq)=1.1nm) using as precursors tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The structure of the deposited azo-derivatives doped thin films was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, while their optical properties of the films by UV–VIS spectroscopy. The nonlinear optical efficiencies due to the interaction of the NLO-active chromophores with the inorganic matrix have a significant influence on the second harmonic generation capabilities that was measured using a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser. The properties of the films were investigated and correlated with the concentration of the organic dopant and the thermal treatment temperature.