MXene Ti3C2Tx: A Promising Photothermal Conversion Material and Application in All-Optical Modulation and All-Optical Information Loading

All-optical modulators, where one light modulates the parameters of another light (intensity, phase, frequency, etc.) without external electronic control, have drawn extraordinary attention in all-optical information processing. In this contribution, by taking advantage of the two-pass structure of Michelson interferometer and the strong photothermal conversion efficiency of MXene nanomaterials, an all-optical modulator is demonstrated with a modulation depth of >27 dB, a free spectrum range of 16.8 nm and a pump-induced phase shift slope of 0.043 pi mW(-1). Moreover, the all-optical modulator is successfully employed to switch on/off the intensity of the signal light and load information from one channel to another with comparable response time and baudrate. It is believed that the MXene-based all-optical modulator will open a door to practical applications of 2D materials-based all-optical devices in all-optical signal processing.