Ultrathin 2D graphdiyne for nonlinear optical modulation in the mid-infrared regime

Abstract

Nonlinear optical materials and components operating in the mid-infrared (MIR) range are of paramount importance for nonlinear optical modulation. Here, we have prepared the ultrathin 2D graphdiyne (GDY) and found that 2D GDY shows obvious nonlinear optical absorption in the mid-infrared regime. The integration of a GDY saturable absorber into an erbium-doped fiber laser resulted in the successful achievement of stable nanosecond pulse output. In addition, a wavelength tunable range of 2779 to 2835 nm has been realized with the help of the volume Bragg grating. The experimental results demonstrate that GDY can function as a stable MIR pulse modulator, and may make inroads for the advancement of stable broadband optoelectronic devices.