Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of vanadium-doped plasticized epoxy polymer composites

Synthesis of vanadium-doped plasticized epoxy polymer composites and the study of their spectral and nonlinear optical properties have been described. Basing on the obtained spectroscopic data, we conclude that vanadium ions were in different (V3+ and V4+) valence states in prepared solutions. Vanadium-doped polymer composites demonstrated the broad absorbance band at wavelength of 950 nm. The absorption cross sections from ground state to the first and second absorbing states of vanadium-doped materials were estimated. It was found that the durability of composite polymers was determined by the matrix material mainly. A significant increase in the nonlinear transmittance of the composites allows them to be used as passive Q-switches in laser systems operating at a narrow range of intensity of 5–200 MW/cm2 for at wave length of 1.06 μm. Illustrative scheme demonstrating the operation of Q-switch based on V3+-doped polymer composite