Nanotube–Polymer Composites for Ultrafast Photonics

TLDR

Polymer composites are attractive for exploiting carbon nanotube and graphene properties, especially in electronics and photonics, with promising applications such as nanotube‑based saturable absorbers. Here, we review various aspects of fabrication, characterization, device implementation and operation of nanotube‑polymer composites to be used in photonic applications. We review fabrication, characterization, device implementation, and operation of nanotube‑polymer composites for photonic use. These can be used as all‑optical switches, optical amplifier noise suppressors, or mode‑lockers to generate ultrashort laser pulses, and we also summarize recent results on graphene‑based saturable absorbers for ultrafast lasers.

Abstract

Abstract Polymer composites are one of the most attractive near‐term means to exploit the unique properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene. This is particularly true for composites aimed at electronics and photonics, where a number of promising applications have already been demonstrated. One such example is nanotube‐based saturable absorbers. These can be used as all‐optical switches, optical amplifier noise suppressors, or mode‐lockers to generate ultrashort laser pulses. Here, we review various aspects of fabrication, characterization, device implementation and operation of nanotube‐polymer composites to be used in photonic applications. We also summarize recent results on graphene‐based saturable absorbers for ultrafast lasers.