Premium
Optical properties of silica aerogels with embedded multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Author(s) -
Chernov Alexander I.,
Predein Alexander Y.,
Danilyuk Alexander F.,
Kuznetsov Vladimir L.,
Larina Tatyana V.,
Obraztsova Elena D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.201600326
Subject(s) - aerogel , materials science , carbon nanotube , composite number , composite material , absorption (acoustics) , femtosecond , transmission electron microscopy , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , saturable absorption , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , laser , optics , fiber laser , fiber , physics , engineering
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully incorporated inside silica aerogel matrix. Solid composite materials were investigated by high‐resolution transmission microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical spectroscopy. MWCNTs in the form of small bundles and individual tubes get locked inside the aerogel between its pores resulting in the local solution‐free environment for nanotubes. Optical transmission of the composite material can be modified by the amount of the added MWCNTs. Nonlinear optical properties were studied by a Z‐scan technique. Composite materials demonstrate saturable absorption for femtosecond laser pulses at 515 nm wavelength that are attributed to the properties of embedded nanotubes. Silica aerogels possess significantly better thermal stability compared to polymer matrices, hosts that are frequently used for saturable absorption applications of carbon nanotubes. Solid and lightweight silica aerogels with embedded nanotubes can be used as optical elements for various photonic devices. Photo of silica aerogel with embedded MWCNTs. Normalized Z‐scan transmittance of silica aerogel with nanotubes for two different on‐focus intensities.