Abstract

We report on the photosensitization of photorefractive (PR) polymeric composites through the inclusion of multiwalled and singlewalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), respectively, having poly(N -vinyl carbazole) (PVK) grafted to their surfaces. The PR nature of the holographic gratings was confirmed via the asymmetric exchange of energy in a two-beam-coupling (TBC) geometry, yielding TBC gain coefficients approaching 80 cm-1. In addition, in degenerate-four-wave- mixing experiments the prepared composites exhibited diffraction efficiencies as high as 60% and overmodulation voltages as low as ∼40 V/μm. These notable figures of merit indicate that the grafting of the PVK polymer to the various CNTs results in enhanced PR performance. The mechanism responsible for this enhancement in PR performance is investigated using a variety of experimental techniques.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Degenerate four-wave mixing; Exchange of energy; Experimental techniques; Figures of merits; Gain coefficients; Multi-walled; Overmodulation; Photo-refractive; Photoconductive polymers; Photorefractivity; Poly(N-vinylcarbazole); Polymeric composites; Carbon nanotubes; Four wave mixing; Grafting (chemical); Photoreactivity; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polymers; Reinforced plastics; Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCN)

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0021-8979

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2011 American Institute of Physics (AIP), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2011

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Chemistry Commons

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