Formation of graphene nanosheets/epoxy resin composite and study its structural, morphological and nonlinear optical properties

The attention towered the fabrication of graphene nanosheets/polymer composites have gradually boosted in the scientific research since these systems have exhibited improved thermal and mechanical stabilities and nonlinear optical properties compared to the pristine polymer. Herein, graphene nanosheets (GNS) were firstly synthesized through liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) of graphite in isopropanol then mixed with epoxy resin (ER) creating a composite of GNS/ER. The properties of the as-obtained structure were evaluated by transmission electron and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopies. The nonlinear optical properties (NLO) of GNS/ER were investigated through single beam Z-scan technique using a continuous-wave (CW) laser beam obtained from a solid-state laser (SDL). The results reveal that GNS/ER composite shows a negative nonlinear refractive index of (-0.26 x 10(-8) cm(2)/W). Optical limiting (OL) measurements were performed on the GNS/ER and the mechanism of the OL is ascribed to the nonlinear refraction (thermal effects). These outcomes specify the potential use of cost-effective produced GNS/ER composite to boost the NLO and OL for future photonic applications.