Nonlinear optical and all-optical switching studies of novel ruthenium complex

We report the experimental investigation on third-order nonlinear optical parameters of a novel (2-thioxo-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolato) triphenylphosphine Ru (III) [RuL] both in solution and solid form, by using Z-scan technique at the measurement wavelength of 532 nm. The films were prepared by spin-coating technique on glass substrate. The magnitude and sign of the third-order nonlinear absorption and refractive index n(2) of ruthenium complex were determined. The results reveal that ruthenium complex exhibits large negative nonlinear refractive index (n(2)) of the order of 10(-9) esu. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (chi((3))) values were of the order 10(-10) esu. The nonlinear optical properties were found to vary with concentration. The chi((3)) value is confirmed through degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) experiment at the same wavelength. The effective excited-state absorption cross section was found to be larger than the ground state absorption cross section indicating that the operating nonlinear mechanism is reverse saturable absorption (RSA). It was found that the ruthenium complex exhibits good optical power limiting and also all-optical switching of nanosecond laser pulses. This new compound has potential application as photonic and optoelectronic devices. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.