Third-order optical nonlinearity of Na2O–B2O3–SiO2 glass doped with lead nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel method

Lead-nanoparticles-doped Na 2 O–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 (NBS) glass was prepared by sol–gel and atmosphere control methods. The formation mechanism and the microstructure of the specimens were investigated by differential thermal analysis and thermal gravimeter, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption measurements, respectively. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of the glass were analyzed by UV/VIS/NIR spectrophotometry and Z -scan technology. The results showed that the Pb nanoparticles in spherical shape with the average particle size about 18.9   nm belong to cubic crystal system and have good crystallinity and dispersibility in the glass matrix as well as exhibit excellent nonlinear optical properties. The specimen has a high linear optical transmittance, and little absorption peaks appear in the examined wavelength range. The third-order optical nonlinear parameters calculated are γ of 1.67   ×   10 −16   m 2 /W, β of 7.02   ×   10 −11   m/W, and χ (3) of 2.61   ×   10 −17   m 2 /W 2 .