Tunable optical nonlinearity of silicon nanoparticles in solid state organic matrix

In this paper, a novel approach to fabricate a hybrid solid state system with both tunable nonlinearity and self-repairing property is studied. The optical nonlinear properties of a silicon nanoparticles system based on gel wax matrix were experimentally investigated. Tunable optical nonlinearities from optical limiting to saturable absorption were achieved by simply changing the concentration of nanoparticles inside the matrix. This approach opens a route for a low cost, one-step-synthesis nonlinear system being highly compatible with silicon optoelectronic circuits. This hybrid system also demonstrates the self-repairing property after excess exposure to laser irradiation.