Nonlinear Optical Properties and Temperature Dependent Photoluminescence in hBN-GO Heterostructure 2D Material

Recently, there has been a renaissance in theoretical and experimental studies on 2D heterostructures of two 2D wonder materials, namely graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) having plethora of application potentials in fundamental research as well as in developments of new technological devices. However, the nonlinear optical (NLO) property of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets-graphene oxide (BNNS-GO) heterostructure has hitherto remained unexplored. Here, in this work NLO properties of BNNS-GO have been reported, for the first time, in the visible region by Z-scan technique in nanosecond regime. Nonlinear absorption coefficient (beta(2PA)) and third order nonlinear susceptibility (chi(3)) of BNNS-GO have been found to be enhanced significantly by 13.4% and 21.7%, respectively in compared to those of bare BNNS. The synthesized heterostructure is showing a superior optical limiting property as compared to that of bare BNNS. The change in polarizabilities of GO sheets with the insertion of hBN in its framework, formation of donor-acceptor pair and bandgap narrowing effects have caused the enhancement in NLO properties of BNNS-GO heterostructure. Temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) of BNNS-GO have been conducted in 278-303 K temperature range and observed Arrhenius type variation of PL intensity with temperature. Thus, it is envisioned that this work will open new vistas of applications of 2D BNNS-GO heterostructure materials in developing photonic safety devices of eye to be used in military and in other industries.