Optical limiting response of Ag2S nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation of silver target in DMSO

Silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs) were synthesized by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of a silver plate in dimethyl sulfoxide. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the obtained nanocrystal samples. The mechanisms for optical limiting performance of an Ag2S NP colloid were investigated under exposure to nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation at 532 nm. The observed aperture dependence of the Ag2S NP limiting performance indicates that the nonlinear scattering plays an important role in the limiting action of the sample. The Ag2S NPs may enhance the absorption of laser light by the two‐photon absorption process and induce a very high rise in the temperature of the sample, which leads to the formation of scattering centers.