Preparation and study of nonlinear response of embedding ZnO nanoparticles in PVA thin film by pulsed laser ablation

In this paper, ZnO/PVA nanocomposite was synthesized by pulsed laser ablation of zinc dust target immersed in the PVA solution carried out by Nd:YAG laser. The concentration of ZnO nanostructured in the PVA matrix was varied by changing the laser ablation time. The physicochemical properties of the prepared sample were investigated by different techniques to discuss their crystallinity, elemental composition, optical, and morphological properties. SEM analysis showed that it has nanoparticles shape ranging 10-20 nm, while XRD difractogram confirmed that it has hexagonal structure ZnO structure, but UV-visible showed the shifting to lower wavelengths as the concentration of ZnO increased, whereas EDX proved that the amount of Zn element increases as the laser ablation time increases. Finally, the prepared sample was tested to be applicable in the field of optoelectronic field as optical limiting materials, and the results showed that the effect of the laser ablation time on the ZnO concentration in the PVA matrix was investigation plays a vital role to enhance the nonlinear refractive index (n(2)) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (beta) of the prepared ZnO/PVA nanocomposite. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, ZnO/PVA nanocomposite was synthesized using pulsed laser ablation method, with varying concentrations of ZnO nanostructures achieved by changing the laser ablation time. The prepared sample exhibited nanoparticles with a size range of 10-20 nm, hexagonal ZnO structure, and showed shifting optical properties with increasing ZnO concentration. The investigation also revealed enhanced nonlinear refractive index (n(2)) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (beta) with increasing laser ablation time.