Nonlinear Optical Properties of Two-Dimensional Carbon-Based Materials
Summary
Two-dimensional carbon-based materials, foremost among them graphene and its derivatives, have emerged as paradigmatic platforms for nonlinear photonics. Their atomically thin geometries combine exceptionally strong light–matter interactions with tunable electronic structures, yielding large second- and third-order optical susceptibilities. The linear dispersion of electrons near the Dirac points in graphene gives rise to broadband and highly efficient processes such as third-harmonic generation, the optical Kerr effect and two-photon absorption, while chemical functionalisation and heterostructure assembly permit fine control over resonance positions and relaxation dynamics. Saturable absorption in graphene and related materials underpins ultrafast photonic switches and passive mode-locking in fibre lasers across the visible and near-infrared. Hybrid architectures, incorporating carbon nanosheets, graphdiyne or doped carbon quantum dots, further enhance nonlinear response through synergistic excitonic effects and plasmonic coupling. The global rise of integrated photonics has prioritised compact frequency converters, optical limiters and all-optical modulators; carbon-based monolayers and nanocomposites address these needs by offering low-loss, wafer-scale compatibility with silicon-on-insulator platforms. Looking ahead, strain engineering, electrostatic gating and chemical patterning promise dynamic modulation of nonlinear coefficients, advancing on-chip quantum light sources, biosensing modalities and ultrafast telecommunication networks.
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Nonlinear Optical Properties of Two-Dimensional Carbon-Based Materials publication trend
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Technical terms
Nonlinear optical susceptibility: Parameter (χ(n)) characterising a material’s polarisation response to high-intensity light, governing harmonic generation and refractive-index changes.
Third-harmonic generation (THG): Nonlinear process in which three photons of the same frequency combine to emit a single photon at triple the frequency of the incident light.
Second-harmonic generation (SHG): Frequency-doubling process in non-centrosymmetric materials, producing photons at twice the frequency of the excitation.
Kerr effect: Intensity-dependent change in refractive index induced by an optical field, essential for all-optical switching and self-phase modulation.
Saturable absorption: Reduction of optical absorption at high intensities, enabling passive mode-locking and Q-switching in ultrafast lasers.
References
- Nonlinear optical properties and applications of 2D materials: theoretical and experimental aspects. Nanophotonics (2018).
- Third order optical nonlinearity of graphene. New Journal of Physics (2014).
- Optical Third-Harmonic Generation in Graphene. Physical Review X (2013).
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