Synthesis and Third-Order Nonlinear Synergistic Effect of ZrO₂/RGO Composites

Tuning the third-order nonlinear properties of graphene by hybrid method is of great significance in nonlinear optics research. ZrO₂/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites with different ZrO₂ concentrations were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology and structure show that ZrO₂ nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on the surface of graphene nanosheets. The nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics of composites with different ZrO₂ concentrations were studied by the Z-scan technique of 532 nm picosecond pulsed laser. The results showed that ZrO₂/RGO composites had saturated absorption and positive nonlinear refraction characteristics. Meanwhile, the third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the ZrO₂/RGO composite with a 4:1 mass ratio of ZrO₂ to graphene oxide could reach 23.23 × 10^-12 esu, which increased tenfold compared to RGO, and the nonlinear modulation depth reached 11.22%. Therefore, the NLO characteristics could be effectively adjusted by controlling the concentration of ZrO₂, which lays a foundation for further research on the application of ZrO₂/RGO composites in NLO devices.