Multi-component nanocomposite for all-optical switching applications

We report a multi-component nanocomposite material with large and ultrafast third-order nonlinearity, made of poly(3-hexylthiophene) doped with 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl) propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C-61 and silver nanoparticles. Large nonlinear refractive index of the order of 10(-7) cm(2)/W is reached by combining surface plasmon resonance enhancing nonlinearity and local-field enhancing nonlinearity. An ultrafast response time of 33.6 ps is achieved due to the enhanced charge transfer and exciton-exciton annihilation associated with surface plasmon resonance. An ultrafast photonic crystal all-optical switching with an ultralow pump intensity of 70KW/cm(2) is also realized. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3646376]