Niobium carbide (Nb₂C) MXene as a saturable absorber to assist in the generation of a wavelength tunable passively Q-switched fiber laser

Abstract

Niobium carbide (Nb2C), a new member of the MXene family, is proposed as a potential saturable absorber (SA) material. Stable Q-switched pulses were established in the C-band wavelength region upon employing a Nb2C/PVA film-based SA in the erbium-doped all-fiber ring cavity. The generated EDF laser operated at a wavelength of 1558.73 nm with a corresponding 3 dB bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio of 2.8 nm and 53.8 dB. A maximum pulse repetition rate and pulse energy of 75.19 kHz and 15.63 nJ were observed at a maximum pump power of 224.5 mW. Interestingly, the emission spectra can be continuously tuned across 44 nm ranging from 1522.32 nm to 1566.07 nm by controlling the tunable band pass filter that has been introduced in the laser cavity. Our findings reflect the feasibility of using Nb2C as an excellent broadband SA material that underpins new opportunities for photonic technology and other potential applications in nonlinear optics.

Dual Regime Mode-Locked and Q-Switched Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser by Employing Graphene Filament–Chitin Film-Based Passive Saturable Absorber

“…The pulse width obtained was lower than many of the previously reported single-regime Q-switched operation using graphene-PVA based Sas, and it was comparable to the one employing a graphene-silica hybrid waveguide and optically deposited graphene oxide [ 32 , 33 , 34 ]. It was also lower than those reported using MXenes and MAX phase [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. The calculated instantaneous peak power and pulse energy was observed to follow the upward trend in which the peak power and the pulse energy maxed out at 53.3 mW and 82.08 nJ, respectively.…”

“…The calculated instantaneous peak power and pulse energy was observed to follow the upward trend in which the peak power and the pulse energy maxed out at 53.3 mW and 82.08 nJ, respectively. The recorded pulse energy is higher than the one reported using SWCNT SA via evanescent field interaction as well as MXenes and MAX phases [35][36][37][38][39]. A high SNR of 57 dB was obtained at the maximum repetition rate of 88.97 kHz, as shown in Figure 11, wherein no changes or drifts were observed in the spectral widths and frequency stability, indicating high laser operation stability.…”

Development of polarization modulator using MXene thin film

“…The solution casting technique was utilized to fabricate the Nb 2 C/PVA film which follows the same procedure as reported in our previous work 28 . Initially, 50 mg of Nb 2 C powder was mixed into 10 mL of the IPA solution using a Hielscher UP200Ht Handheld Ultrasonic Homogenizer probe-type sonicator.…”