Second harmonic generation imaging of LiIO3/laponite nanocomposite waveguides

We have developed LiIO3/laponite nanocomposite thin films to form waveguides with quadratic nonlinear optical properties. The films are dip-coated and annealed to induce LiIO3 crystallisation within the laponite matrix. LiIO3 nanocrystal orientation can be controlled using an electric field during the annealing process. In this article we perform the characterisations of the nanocomposite films through m-line spectroscopy and second harmonic generation microscopy (SHGM). Both refractive indexes deduced from m-line spectra and the SHG signal are shown to depend on the nanocrystal orientation distribution, and a relationship between the optical properties and microscopic structure of the films is developed.