Solution-processed two-dimensional materials for ultrafast fiber lasers (invited)

TLDR

Since graphene was first used as a saturable absorber for ultrafast fiber‑laser pulses, many 2D materials—topological insulators, transition‑metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, and MXenes—have been explored for their broadband operation, ultrafast recovery, and tunable modulation depth, and solution‑processing methods have attracted interest for their low cost, ease of fabrication, and scalability. The authors review solution‑processed fabrication methods for various 2D materials and their application in fiber lasers. They examine solution‑processing techniques for preparing 2D materials and evaluate their performance as saturable absorbers in fiber lasers. The review concludes with a perspective on solution‑processed methods and 2D material‑based saturable absorbers.

Abstract

Abstract Since graphene was first reported as a saturable absorber to achieve ultrafast pulses in fiber lasers, many other two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as topological insulators, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, and MXenes, have been widely investigated in fiber lasers due to their broadband operation, ultrafast recovery time, and controllable modulation depth. Recently, solution-processing methods for the fabrication of 2D materials have attracted considerable interest due to their advantages of low cost, easy fabrication, and scalability. Here, we review the various solution-processed methods for the preparation of different 2D materials. Then, the applications and performance of solution-processing-based 2D materials in fiber lasers are discussed. Finally, a perspective of the solution-processed methods and 2D material-based saturable absorbers are presented.