The　preparation　and　characterization　of　free-standing　films　made　of　a　graphene　oxide-carboxymethyl　cellulose　composite　material　is　described.　Characterization　was　accomplished　using　transmission　electron　microscopy,　ultraviolet-visible　absorption　spectroscopy,　Raman　spectroscopy,　and　thermal　gravimetric　analysis.　The　nonlinear　optical　performance　of　this　composite　material　was　studied　using　the　open　aperture　Z-scan　technique　in　the　nanosecond　regime　using　a　532-nm　wavelength　laser.　Results　show　that　the　composite　has　nonlinear　optical　properties　that　are　much　enhanced　when　composited　with　graphene　oxide.　All　phenomena　indicate　that　the　film　is　a　potential　candidate　for　optical　limiting　applications.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.