Third-order optical nonlinearity in Ti2C MXene for Q-switching operation at 1-2 μm

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXene) possess the peculiar physical and electronic properties. In this paper, we reported the wideband third-order optical nonlinearities in Ti2C MXene from 1 to 2 mu m. The maximum effective nonlinear absorption coefficients were -0.56 cm/MW, -0.702 cm/MW and -0.62 cm/MW at 1, 1.3 and 2 mu m, respectively. Moreover, two-photon absorption effect was also investigated. Based on the Ti2C MXene saturable absorber, passively Q-switched bulk lasers operating at 1, 1.34 and 2 mu m were realized for the first time. The minimum pulse duration was obtained as 128 ns at 1064 nm.

Automated summary

This paper reports the wideband third-order optical nonlinearities in Ti2C MXene and investigates the two-photon absorption effect. Passively Q-switched bulk lasers operating at 1, 1.34, and 2 μm were realized for the first time using Ti2C MXene as the saturable absorber, with a minimum pulse duration of 128 ns at 1064 nm.