Synthesis, characterization and studies on the nonlinear optical parameters of hydrazones

Abstract

Three hydrazones, 2-(4-methylphenoxy)-N?-[(1E)-(4-nitrophenyl)methylene]acetohydrazide (compound-1), 2-(4-methylphenoxy)-N?-[(1E)-(4-methylphenyl)methylene]acetohydrazide ((compound-2) and N?-{(1E)-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylene}-2-(4-ethylphenoxy) acetohydrazide(compound-3) were synthesized and their third order nonlinear optical properties were investigated using a single beam z-scan technique with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm. Open aperture data obtained from the three compounds indicates two photon absorption at this wavelength. The nonlinear refractive index n<inf>2</inf>, the nonlinear absorption coefficient ?, the magnitude of the effective third order susceptibility ?(3), the second order hyperpolarizability ?<inf>h</inf> and the coupling factor ? have been estimated. The values obtained are comparable with the values obtained for 4-methoxy chalcone derivatives and dibenzylidene acetone derivatives. Among the compounds studied, compounds-1 and 3 exhibited the better optical power limiting behaviour at 532 nm. Our studies suggest that compounds-1, 2 and 3 are potential candidates for optical device applications such as optical limiters and optical switches. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.