Covalent functionalization of SbS with poly(-vinylcarbazole) for solid-state broadband laser protection.

An optimized complex multi-component nanomaterial system would help greatly enhance the optical limiting performance and applicability of 2D nanomaterials. By using antimony sulfide-[-1-dodecyl-'-(α,α'-dimethyl-α''-acetic acid)trithiocarbonate] (SbS-DDAT) as a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, a highly soluble poly(-vinylcarbazole)-covalently modified SbS (SbS-PVK) was synthesized and embedded into a non-optically active poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) matrix producing a PMMA-based film with good optical quality. In contrast to both the SbS/PMMA and SbS:PVK blends/PMMA films, the SbS-PVK/PMMA film exhibits more superior optical limiting performance. After annealing in N at 200 °C for 30 minutes, the achieved nonlinear absorption coefficient and limiting threshold are changed from 411.79 cm GW and 1.93 J cm at 532 nm and 242.79 cm GW and 4.17 J cm at 1064 nm before annealing to 478.04 cm GW and 1.70 J cm at 532 nm and 520.92 cm GW and 1.40 J cm at 1064 nm after annealing, respectively. These advantages make SbS-PVK one of the potential promising candidates for a broadband laser protector in both the visible and near-infrared ranges.