Large Nonlinearity Enhancement of Ag/MEH-PPV Nanocomposite by Surface Plasmon Resonance at 1,550 nm

We experimentally demonstrate a large third-order nonlinear susceptibility for a nanocomposite made of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] doped with silver nanoprisms at 1,550 nm, achieved based on nonlinearity enhancement associated with strong surface plasmon resonance. The nonlinear refractive index reaches −1.37 × 10−12 m2/W, which is three orders of magnitude larger than that of pure poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]. An ultrafast response time of 18.7 ps is reached using fast energy transfer from excited states of organic molecules to silver nanoprisms. A low-power and ultrafast nanocomposite photonic crystal all-optical switching is also realized.