Efficient spatial self-phase modulation in the near-infrared and visible regimes of transition metal carbonitride Ti3CN

Abstract

Transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXenes) have attracted great interest in all-optical modulation applications due to their excellent nonlinear optical properties. Herein, we investigated the spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM) of Ti₃CN flake suspension at wavelengths ranging from 405 to 1064 nm. Broadband third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ values of Ti₃CN were found to be ∼10⁻⁹ e.s.u. (5.35 × 10⁻⁹ e.s.u. at 532 nm), which was 3 to 5 times greater than those of transition metal dichalcogenides. In particular, Ti₃CN exhibited a faster nonlinear optical response time (0.36 s) in the near-infrared region than that in the visible regime (0.4 to 0.53 s), with the response time increasing with wavelength in the visible regime. Our study reveals that Ti₃CN can serve as a potential candidate for applications in nonlinear optical devices, especially for near-infrared all-optical devices.