Laser-Induced Change in the Refractive Index in the Systems Based on Nanostructured Polyimide: Comparative Study with Other Photosensitive Structures

Abstract

The fullerene- and nanotubes-doping effect on spectral and photorefractive properties of conjugated organic systems based on polyimide have been studied. A fullerene introduction in these materials has been used due to high electron affinity of fullerenes that allows the intermolecular donor-acceptor interaction to be reinforced. The nanotubes doping has been made due to a large increase in photoconductivity of the new composites. Drastic increase in delta n has been observed under condition of nanoobjects introduction. The data presented in the current study testified that these materials could be used as new reversible holographic recording elements, new optical limiting systems, as well as new high-speed switchers.

Keywords:

• fullerenes
• laser-induced change in the refractive index
• nanotubes
• organic electrooptical nanostructures
• polyimide

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. V. I. Berendyaev (Karpov Reaserch Institute, Moscow, Russia), Dr. Yu. M. Voronin (State Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, St. Petersburg, Russia), Dr. A. P. Zhevlakov (Vavilov State Optical Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia) for their help in this study. This work was partially supported by Russian National Technology Basis Program (Project «Limiter», 2003–2006).