Liquid-Phase Exfoliated Silicon Nanosheets: Saturable Absorber for Solid-State Lasers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) materials are actively researched for their unique optical properties.
• Group-IVA elements, like silicon, offer potential for novel optoelectronic devices.
• Developing efficient saturable absorbers (SAs) is crucial for pulsed laser generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize few-layer silicon (Si) nanosheets using liquid phase exfoliation (LPE).
• To investigate the nonlinear saturable absorption properties of Si nanosheets.
• To demonstrate the first passive Q-switched all-solid-state lasers utilizing Si nanosheets as SAs.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of few-layer Si nanosheets via LPE.
• Characterization of nonlinear saturable absorption using 532 nm and 1064 nm nanosecond lasers.
• Integration of Si nanosheets as SAs in Nd3+-doped all-solid-state lasers.

Main Results:

• Si nanosheets exhibited nonlinear saturable absorption properties.
• Successfully demonstrated passive Q-switched all-solid-state lasers using Si nanosheets.
• Achieved narrowest Q-switched pulse widths of 200.2 ns (0.9 µm), 103.7 ns (1.06 µm), and 110.4 ns (1.34 µm).
• Obtained highest peak powers of 2.76 W (0.9 µm), 2.15 W (1.06 µm), and 1.26 W (1.34 µm).

Conclusions:

• Few-layer Si nanosheets are effective saturable absorbers for pulsed lasers.
• This work presents a promising new SA for solid-state pulsed laser applications.
• Si nanosheets have potential applications in ultrafast photonics and optoelectronics.