Investigation of third-order nonlinear and optical power limiting properties of terphenyl derivatives

A series of new chalcones containing terphenyl as a core and with different functional groups has been successfully synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation method in search of new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Molecular structural characterization for the compounds was achieved by FTIR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The third-order NLO absorption and refraction coefficients were simultaneously determined by Z-scan technique. The measurements were performed at 532 nm with 7 ns laser pulses using a Nd:YAG laser in solution form. The Z-scan experiments reveal that the compounds exhibit strong nonlinear refraction coefficient of the order 10(-11) esu and the molecular two photon absorption cross section is 10(-46) cm(4) s/photon. The results also show that the structures of the compounds have great impact on NLO properties. The compounds show optical power limiting behavior due to two-photon absorption (TPA). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.