Nanosecond-scale all-optical Ti3C2Tx-MXene modulator

Inspired by recent advancements of graphene-based ultrafast photonic devices, as a graphene-like two-dimensional layer-structure material, Ti3C2Tx-MXene has gained much interest in nonlinear optical applications, especially in all-optical intensity modulation. Herein, we successfully fabricated an all-optical modulator based on Ti3C2Tx-Mxene/polyvinyl-alcohol film with nanosecond-scale response time, modulation speed of 100 kHz, and modulation depth of 10%. Furthermore, the variation of fall edges of modulated signal pulse attributing to thermo-optic effect under different pump power was also observed. Considering the ease of fabrication, low cost, ease integration, the proposed novel modulator may open the door for highspeed all-optical communications and signal processing.