Hyperbranched lutecium phthalocyanines grafted ethylenediamine@graphene oxide with enhanced nonlinear optical properties

To enhance the nonlinear optical properties of graphene oxide in organic solvent and polymeric matrix, lutecium phthalocyanines (LuPc) and hyperbranched lutecium phthalocyanines (HBLuPc) have been grafted on the surface of graphene oxide, respectively. After the surficial modification, the electron transfer process between phthalocyanines and graphene oxide has been also facilitated, resulting in significant fluorescence quenching. Given the combination of nonlinear scattering, two-photon absorption with reverse saturable absorption and the photo-induced electron or energy transfer from the electron donor (phthalocyanine moiety) to the acceptor (graphene oxide), stronger nonlinear optical properties can be realized based on graphene oxide hybrids compared with graphene oxide and phthalocyanines. Furthermore, graphene oxide hybrid modified by hyperbranched lutecium phthalocyanines exhibits the best optical limiting response and the highest nonlinear extinction coefficient at 532 nm in both organic solvent and polymeric matrix. Interestingly, we also find that it could exhibit better optical limiting properties than those possessed by pure phthalocyanine at 1064 nm.