An optical limiting (OL) effect of the laser radiation over IR range in org
anic compounds based on polyimide has been studied. The non-linear transmis
sion at a wavelength of 1315 nm as well as spectral properties of the compo
unds have been investigated. The results obtained have been explained by th
e donor-acceptor interaction mechanism that affects non-linear-optical prop
erties of organic molecules. The fullerene-doped polyimide structures have
been determined to be effective OL materials for attenuating a power densit
y of more than 1 J cm(-2) in the IR range. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier S
cience B.V.