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Determination of the refractive index of indigo dye thin film/flexible polyacetate substrate

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Abstract

A thin-film (215 nm) of indigo dye has been deposited on a polymer substrate (polyacetate) using thermal evaporation. The structure of the prepared film has been investigated using X-ray diffraction, showing X-ray amorphous or fine nanocrystalline nature. Analysis of the absorption coefficient in the strong absorption regions shows two indirect optical transitions with energy gaps (2.45 and 1.64 eV) in addition to the energy gap of the substrate (3.5 eV). Values of the refractive index have been calculated using four different methods. The average refractive index values near the first and second absorption edges are 2.525 and 2.871, respectively. The average values of the optical dielectric constant near the two corresponding edges are 6.377 and 8.064. Furthermore, the corresponding values of the nonlinear optical susceptibilities and nonlinear refractive index are in the same order of magnitude as other promising organic materials. This recommends indigo-thin films for flexible organic electro-optical applications.

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Funding

The second author extends his appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through the large research group program number: R.G.P.2/434/44.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Semiconductor Lab., Physics Department, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, 11341, Egypt

    A. M. Shakra & S. S. Shenouda

  2. Laboratory of Nano-Smart Materials for Science and Technology (LNSMST), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    I. S. Yahia

  3. Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    I. S. Yahia

  4. Nanoscience Laboratory for Environmental and Biomedical Applications (NLEBA), Department of Physics, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, 11341, Egypt

    I. S. Yahia

  5. Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, P.O. Box 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

    I. S. Yahia

  6. Department of Basic Sciences, Obour High Institute for Engineering and Technology, Cairo, Egypt

    S. S. Shenouda

Authors
  1. A. M. Shakra
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  2. I. S. Yahia
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  3. S. S. Shenouda
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Contributions

AMS: Conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—reviewing and editing. ISY: Conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—reviewing and editing. SSS: Conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to S. S. Shenouda.

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Shakra, A.M., Yahia, I.S. & Shenouda, S.S. Determination of the refractive index of indigo dye thin film/flexible polyacetate substrate. Opt Quant Electron 55, 823 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-023-05014-1

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