Strong third-order nonlinear response and optical limiting of α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles

In this manuscript, we demonstrate the strong resonant two photon absorption coefficient ≈71 ± 5 cm/GW at 532 nm in α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. Strikingly, we have obtained the optical limiting onset threshold fluence (FON) of 36 mJ/cm2 for the linear transmittance of 0.64 with an excellent two photon absorption cross section (38 × 10−45 cm4 s), which suggests that they can be utilized as passive optical limiters. To explain the observed effects, we present a two-level rate equation model and numerically simulated the Z-scan peak shape, which is in good agreement with the experimental data. Further, we also show the normalized population density of the carriers in excited and ground states.