Sol-gel-derived hybrid materials containing C60 and their optical limiting effects

In this work, new hybrid organic-inorganic composites of C60-NH2(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3 (C60-3- Aminopropyl-triethoxy-silane, C60-KH550), C60-NH2(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3-CH2OCHCH2O(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3 (C60-3-Aminopropyl- triethoxy-silane-3-Glcidoxypropltrimethoxysilane,C60- KH550-KH560), and C60-NH2(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3CH2OCHCH2-O-(CH2)3-Si(OCH3)3- (CH3)2Si(OCH3)2 (C60-3- Aminopropyltriethoxysilane-3-Glcidoxypropltrimethoxy-silaneDi- ethoxy-dimethyl-silane, C60-KH550-KH560-DTDS) were synthesized with sol-gel processes. The infrared absorption spectra of the composites were measured. Using a Nd:YAG laser with 10 ns pulse duration and 532 nm wavelength, the optical limiting behaviors of the above composites were demonstrated and discussed. As optical limiters, the laser induced damage thresholds of the slices made from such hybrid materials can be up to 5-6 J/cm2.