SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBES FOR OPTICAL LIMITING

Abstract We report on the non-linear optical transmittance of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in a water/surfactant suspension. Optical limiting is observed at low-energy thresholds both in the visible and near-infrared. We find small non-linear thresholds and large optical densities that match or overpass the performances of other good optical limiters (C60 and carbon black) both in the visible and in the near-infrared, which makes SWNT very promising systems for broadband optical limiting.