Nonlinear absorption, nonlinear scattering, and optical limiting properties of MoS2–ZnO composite-based organic glasses

MoS2–ZnO composites were synthesized using a solution-based method. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that ZnO nanoparticles with a size of about 4.5 nm were coated on the basal surface of MoS2 nanosheets with an expanded spacing of the (002) plane. The MoS2–ZnO composite-based poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) organic glasses (MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses) were prepared through a polymerization process. The nonlinear absorption (NLA), nonlinear scattering (NLS), and optical limiting (OL) properties of the MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses with different amounts of MoS2–ZnO were investigated using a modified Z-scan technique. Compared to MoS2–PMMA and ZnO–PMMA organic glasses, the MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses exhibited enhanced NLA, NLS, and OL properties, which were attributed to the interfacial charge transfer between MoS2 nanosheets and ZnO nanoparticles, the layered structure of MoS2 nanosheets, the small size effect of ZnO nanoparticles, and the local field effect. In addition, a changeover from saturable absorption (SA) to reverse saturable absorption (RSA) could be realized in the MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses by adjusting the input energy. The total nonlinear extinction coefficient and response time of the MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses could be up to 2380 cm GW−1 and several hundred picoseconds, respectively. Compared to the MoS2 films, the MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses have higher optical damage threshold, better mechanical strength and flexibility. Thus the MoS2–ZnO–PMMA organic glasses are very promising for optical devices such as optical limiters, optical shutters, ultrafast lasers, and ultrafast optical switches.