Résumé
Suspensions of single wall carbon nanotubes are good candidates for optical limiting. We compare their performances with those of other carbonaceous materials. Z-scan and pump-probe experiments are used to identify and investigate nonlinear scattering as the main origin of optical limiting. In suspensions of SWNT, non linear scattering is due both to heat transfer from particles to solvent, leading to solvent bubble formation, and to sublimation of carbon nanotubes.