Open Aperture Z - Scan Studies of Spin Coated Graphite Oxide Thin Film

Abstract

In this work, the structural, linear and nonlinear optical characterization of graphite oxide thin film synthesized by spin coating technique. Graphite is made up of layers of graphene, which is a conductive two-dimensional structure. Graphite oxide (GO) powder prepared from graphite flakes by oxidation via modified Hummer’s method. Structural and physiochemical properties of the sample was investigated with the help of X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT- IR), Raman Spectroscopy (Raman) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) measurements. The FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy results revealed that graphite is oxidized by strong oxidants, and oxygen atoms are presented into the graphite layers, forming C=C, C-H, and C-O groups. The synthesized sample is more crystalline and has fewer defects. The nonlinear optical property of GO thin film was investigated using the open aperture Z-Scan technique and a 532nm Q-switched Nd-Yag laser. The Z-scan plot revealed that the explored GO thin film exhibits saturable absorption. The nonlinear absorption coefficient and saturation intensity were also calculated in order to investigate their possible applications in Q switched mode locking laser systems.