Third-order nonlinear optical response of Au-core CdS-shell composite nanoparticles embedded in BaTiO3 thin films

Au-core CdS-shell composite nanoparticles were synthesized by a direct self-assembly process and integrated into BaTiO3 thin films. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy showed that the average diameter of these composite nanoparticles was about 8 nm. Using the femtosecond time-resolved optical Kerr effect method, we investigated the third-order nonlinear optical response of the Au@CdS nanoparticles embedded in the BaTiO3 thin films at a wavelength of 800 nm. An ultrafast nonlinear response and a large effective third-order nonlinear susceptibility of chi((3)) = 7.7 x 10(-11) esu were observed. We attributed the enhancement of the third-order optical nonlinearity to a localized electric field effect originating from the core-shell structure under off-surface-plasmon resonance conditions.