Insights into nonlinear absorption transitions in a silver-incorporated reduced graphene oxide–molybdenum disulfide (Ag–rGO–MoS2) hybrid†

Optical nonlinearity in a silver-decorated reduced graphene oxide–molybdenum disulfide (Ag–rGO–MoS₂) nanocomposite was experimentally investigated via the Z-scan technique using a Q-switched Nd:YAG nanopulsed green laser. An interesting switching behaviour from saturable to reverse saturable absorption with varying input on-axis intensity of the laser was demonstrated. Under low-intensity laser excitation, Ag–rGO–MoS₂ displayed ground-state bleaching, which resulted in saturable absorption (SA) behaviour. Here, the prominent SPR phenomenon of Ag enforced plasmon absorption and is assigned to the SA process. Interestingly at higher intensity, the material switched its nonlinearity to reverse saturable absorption (RSA), attributed to two different mechanisms of two-photon absorption (2PA). At moderate laser pulse energies, the sample underwent sequential 2PA, which is underpinned by calculated varying nonlinear optical parameters and excited-state absorption cross-sections. However, at higher intensities, nonlinear absorption coefficients and excited-state absorption cross-sections remained constant, indicating the occurrence of genuine 2PA. In addition, theoretical estimation of the 2PA cross-section validates the observed transition. Thus, experimental evidence for the validity of nonlinear absorption theory (intensity-dependent transition from linear to nonlinear SA to nonlinear RSA to genuine 2PA via sequential 2PA) is provided for the first time in the literature.