Optimization process of spin-coated black phosphorus/polydimethylsiloxane composite on microfiber as saturable absorber for ultrafast photonics

• DOI: 10.1016/j.infrared.2023.104578
• Publication Date: 2023-02-03T07:18:05Z
• Authors: E.K. Ng; N. Mohd Yusoff; H.K. Lee; J.Y.C. Liew; M.H. Abu Bakar; N.H. Zainol Abidin; M.T. Alresheedi; M.A. Mahdi
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

Numerous saturable absorber (SA) fabrication methods have been proposed and employed in the development of ultrafast laser systems, particularly for microfiber-based SAs decorated with various 2D materials. However, the study on microfiber-SA with different transition lengths is still inadequate. This paper focuses on the design and fabrication method of black phosphorus/polydimethylsiloxane composite microfiber-based SA for ultrashort pulse generation. With optimized microfiber-SA dimensions of 30 mm (up/down taper), 1 mm (waist length) and 10 µm (waist diameter), black phosphorus/polydimethylsiloxane composite was spin-coated on the microfiber at 4000 rpm for 6 min. The integration of the microfiber-SA in an erbium-doped fiber laser exhibited pulse duration of 724 fs at center wavelength of 1560.18 nm. This work provides a guideline for the design of microfiber-based SA using spin-coating technique to maximize its laser performances.