Ultrafast carrier dynamics and saturable absorption of solution-processable few-layered graphene oxide

Ultrafast carrier dynamics and saturable absorption of few-layered graphene oxide, well-dispersed in organic solvent, are studied using femtosecond pump-probe and Z-scan techniques. The results demonstrate that few-layered graphene oxide has a fast energy relaxation of hot carriers and strong saturable absorption, which is comparable with that of reduced graphene oxide. Fast carrier relaxation combined with well solution processing capability arises from the large fraction of sp(2) carbon atom inside the few-layered graphene oxide sheet together with oxidation mainly existing at the edge areas. This superiority of few-layered graphene oxide will facilitate potential applications of graphene for ultrafast photonics. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3570640]