Surface plasmon resonance induced impressive absorptive nonlinearity from C-2-phenylethenilcalix [4]resorcinarene silver hybrid system

We experimentally demonstrate the enhanced absorptive nonlinear response from a hybrid system developed through the noncovalent interaction of C-2-phenylethenilcalix [4]resorcinarene (CPECR) with the silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The modified absorption spectrum and significantly reduced emission spectrum confirm the hybrid system formation. The characteristic shift in the Raman peaks ensures the charge transfer between CPECR and Ag. The absorptive nonlinearity of the hybrid system at the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of Ag NPs was studied by the z-scan method using a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser with nanosecond pulsed beams having a repetition rate of 10 Hz at 532 nm. The dominance of the hybrid system formation over the pure system is the emergence of impressive nonlinear response at low input intensity resulting from the synergistic effect of effective two-photon absorption, the photo-induced charge transfer between CPECR and Ag and the local field effect produced by the SPR of Ag NPs. [Display omitted] •The third-order nonlinear signature of C-2-phenylethenilcalix [4]resorcinarene(CPECR) is identified by the z-scan method with nanosecond pulsed laser beams having a repetition rate of 10 Hz at 532 nm.•We developed a new hybrid system (CPECR-Ag) through the non-covalent interaction between CPECR and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs).•The highlight of the hybrid system formation is that its optical limiting threshold is ten times lower than that of CPECR, and its effective two-photon absorption coefficient is three times that of Ag NPs, while a nonlinear signature is absent in CPECR at the same intensity.