Nonlinear optical properties of fullerene-organic glassy polymer composites

The homopolymer poly(tert-butyl styrene) (PtBS) was prepared by anionic polymerisation and was used as a host matrix for C-60 and C-70 fullerenes. The nonlinear optical properties and the optical limiting action of C, and C-70-PtBS-toluene solutions and composite films were investigated using the z-scan technique, at the visible wavelength of 532 nm. Both solutions and films were found to have a significant nonlinear optical response and optical limiting action. For the solutions studied, the nonlinear absorption and refraction parameters were deduced, while the optical limiting action of the corresponding films has been investigated and compared with that of the solutions. A five level model was used to explain the observed optical limiting behaviour of both solutions and films.