Journal article - Includes Student Work
Emerging Ta 4 C 3 and Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 MXene Nanosheets for Ultrafast Photonics
Advanced optical materials, v 13(15), 2403277
17 May 2025
Abstract
Ultrafast nonlinear optical (NLO) response, fast carrier recovery, broadband absorption, and resistance to radiation and heat make 2D materials promising for photonic technologies. However, low electronic conductivity and carrier concentration limit the performance of semiconducting or semimetallic materials. This work investigates the ultrafast NLO properties and carrier dynamics of Ta 4 C 3 T x and out‐of‐plane ordered Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x MXenes using Z‐scan and pump‐probe optical Kerr effect techniques under visible and infrared femtosecond laser pulses. Their NLO response surpasses all previously studied MXenes and most other 2D nanomaterials, attaining exceptionally high third‐order susceptibility ( χ (3) ) values on the order of 10 −13 esu. Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x exhibits the strongest NLO response under both excitation regimes, attributed to charge transfer between Mo and Ti layers in the MXene structure. Under visible excitation, the studied MXenes display pronounced saturable absorption, while under infrared excitation, they exhibit strong reverse saturable absorption, resulting in efficient optical limiting. Additionally, pump‐probe experiments identify two distinct relaxation processes: a fast one on the sub‐picosecond timescale and a slower one a few picoseconds after photoexcitation. The results indicate that these MXenes are among the strongest NLO materials. They show their great potential for advanced photonic and optoelectronic applications in laser technologies, optical protection, telecommunications, and optical/quantum computing.
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Details
- Title
- Emerging Ta 4 C 3 and Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 MXene Nanosheets for Ultrafast Photonics
- Creators
- Michalis Stavrou - Foundation for Research and Technology HellasBenjamin Chacon - Drexel UniversityMaria Farsari - Foundation for Research and Technology HellasAnna Maria Pappa - Khalifa University of Science and TechnologyLucia Gemma Delogu - University of PaduaYury Gogotsi (Corresponding Author) - Drexel UniversityDavid Gray - Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas
- Publication Details
- Advanced optical materials, v 13(15), 2403277
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework ProgrammeStavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF): 9578 Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation: degrees 101091644, degrees 10062385 European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program: DMR-2041050 US National Science Foundation
The authors gratefully acknowledge NAIAD co-funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the 5th Call of "Science and Society" Action - "Always Strive for Excellence - Theodore Papazoglou" (Project Number: 9578) This project had received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement n degrees 101091644. UK participants in Horizon Europe Project FABulous were supported by UKRI grant n degrees 10062385 (MODUS). The development of MXene materials at Drexel was supported by the US National Science Foundation under grant DMR-2041050.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials Science and Engineering; A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001481244800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105004183370
- Other Identifier
- 991022052311004721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Optics