Graphene-polyvinyl alcohol polymer based saturable absorption at 2000 nm region

• Main Authors: Hussin, Nabihah, Azmi, Asrul Izam, Salim, Mohd. Rashidi, Mohd. Noor, Muhammad Yusof, Abdullah, Ahmad Sharmi, David, Michael, Ahmad, Fauzan, Ibrahim, Mohd. Haniff
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science 2022
• Subjects: TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/99436/1/MohdHaniffIbrahim2022_GraphenePolyvinylAlcoholPolymerBasedSaturableAbsorption.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/99436/; http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijeecs.v27.i2.pp701-708

A graphene-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite saturable absorption is demonstrated at 2000 nm region. Graphene suspension is produced using low-cost electrochemical exfoliation process. The suspension is mixed with PVA host polymer in 1:1 ratio and left evaporated at room temperature which finally produced graphene-PVA thin film. Thulium doped fiber (TDF) gain medium has been shown to produce a stable Q-switched pulse with a highest repetition rate of 54 kHz, a short pulse duration of 2.89 µs, a maximum peak power of 16 mW, and an estimated maximum pulse energy of 49 nJ. Apparently, at 2000 nm region, superior performances of graphene-PVA composite have been recorded which was largely contributed by meticulous composite preparation and homogenous mixture with PVA host.