Nonlinear optical properties of MXene and applications in broadband ultrafast photonics

Abstract

As a typical kind of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides and/or carbonitrides (MXene), Ti 3 C 2 T x has attracted extensive attention in optoelectronic field owing to their outstanding thermal, optoelectronic, and nonlinear optical properties. Ti 3 C 2 T x has been widely used as saturable absorber (SA) for achieving ultrafast pulses, whereas the influence of recovery time on its nonlinear optical properties as SA in laser needs further exploration. Herein, the ultrafast dynamics and nonlinear optical properties of Ti 3 C 2 T x are investigated by the methods of transient absorption and balanced twin-detector measurements. According to the experimental results, Ti 3 C 2 T x has a bleaching recovery time more than 160 ps, resulting in a low saturation intensity. The prepared Ti 3 C 2 T x is utilized as SA to achieve Q-switched pulses at 1- and 1.5- μ m bands. This study demonstrates that ultrafast dynamics has a significant impact on adjusting and optimizing nonlinear optical parameters of MXenes, as well as designing new photonic devices. • Optical properties and applications of Ti 3 C 2 T x as saturable absorber (SA) in 1- and 1.5- μ m lasers were studied. • Effect of carrier dynamics of Ti 3 C 2 T x on saturable absorption performance was discussed. • Ti 3 C 2 T x as SA in lasers was quantitatively analyzed, benefiting for realizing customized SA. • Large-energy Q-switched pulses were realized in 1- and 1.5- μ m bands owing to low saturable intensity.