Formation and nonlinear optical properties of carbon nanospindles from laser ablation

Abstract

Carbon nanospindles are synthesized by laser ablation of carbon black suspension. Their formation could be originated from the coalescence of small carbon nanocrystals because enough time and energy are provided at a long pulse width. At the same level of linear transmittance, carbon nanospindle suspension exhibits better nonlinear optical effects with a 532-nm laser beam than carbon black suspension. The possible mechanism for optical limiting is attributed to the nonlinear scattering from the micro-bubbles.