Single-wall carbon nanotubes for optical limiting

We report on the non-linear optical transmittance of single-wall carbon nan otubes (SWNT) in a water/surfactant suspension. Optical limiting is observe d at low-energy thresholds both in the Visible and near-infrared. We find s mall non-linear thresholds and large optical densities that match or overpa ss the performances of other good optical limiters (C-60 and carbon black) both in the visible and in the near-infrared, which makes SWNT very promisi ng systems for broadband optical limiting. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.