Studies of the nonlinear optical phenomena that describe the light‐matter interactions in 2D crystalline materials have promoted a diverse range of photonic applications. MXene, as a recently developed new 2D material, has attracted considerable attention because of its graphene‐like but highly tunable and tailorable electronic/optical properties. In this study, we systematically characterize the nonlinear optical response of MXene Ti3C2Tx nanosheets over the spectral range of 800 nm to 1800 nm. A large effective nonlinear absorption coefficient (βeff∼‐10−21 m2/V2) due to saturable absorption is observed for all of the testing wavelengths. The contribution of saturable absorption is two orders of magnitude higher than other lossy nonlinear absorption processes, and the amplitude of βeff strongly depends on the light bleaching level. A negative nonlinear refractive index (n2∼‐10−20 m2/W) with value comparable to that of the intensively studied graphene was demonstrated for the first time. These results demonstrate the efficient broadband light signal manipulating capabilities of Ti3C2Tx, which is only one member of the large MXene family. The capability of an efficient broadband optical switch is strongly confirmed using Ti3C2Tx as saturable absorbers for mode‐locking operation at 1066 nm and 1555 nm, respectively. A highly stable femtosecond laser with pulse duration as short as 159 fs in the telecommunication window is readily obtained. Considering the diversity of the MXene family, this study may open a new avenue to advanced photonic
devices.
Graphene and the following derivative 2D materials have been demonstrated to exhibit rich distinct optoelectronic properties, such as broadband optical response, strong and tunable light–mater interactions, and fast relaxations in the flexible nanoscale. Combining with optical platforms like fibers, waveguides, grating, and resonators, these materials has spurred a variety of active and passive applications recently. Herein, the optical and electrical properties of graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, MXene, and their derivative van der Waals heterostructures are comprehensively reviewed, followed by the design and fabrication of these 2D material‐based optical structures in implementation. Next, distinct devices, ranging from lasers to light emitters, frequency convertors, modulators, detectors, plasmonic generators, and sensors, are introduced. Finally, the state‐of‐art investigation progress of 2D material‐based optoelectronics offers a promising way to realize new conceptual and high‐performance applications for information science and nanotechnology. The outlook on the development trends and important research directions are also put forward.
Continuous and real‐time sensoring has received much attention in biomarker monitoring, toxicity assessment, and therapeutic agent tracking. However, its on‐site application is seriously limited by several stubborn defects including liability to fouling, signal drifting, short service life, poor repeatability, etc. Additionally, most current methods require extra sample pretreatment, delaying timely acquisition of testing results. To address these issues, MXene‐Ti3C2Tx based screen‐printed electrode incorporated with a dialysis microfluidic chip is constructed for a direct and continuous multicomponent analysis of whole blood. Dual‐function of MXene is developed and allows for simultaneous quantification of different target compounds through one device. Importantly, ratiometric sensing tactic is easily implemented in the system, which greatly alleviates signal drifting. As a proof of concept, this novel sensor is applied in hemodialysis, and continuous assay of urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels in human blood is realized. This work paves a new path for 2D MXene in biomedical and sensing applications.
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