Enhanced optical nonlinearity of Mxene Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets decorated with silver nanoparticles

Two-dimensional Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets have drawn much attention due to their unique nonlinear optical properties. To enhance the optical nonlinearity of the material, we synthesized Ti₃C₂T_x composites decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ti₃C₂T_x/Ag) through self-assembling of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of Ti₃C₂T_x. The nonlinear optical properties the composite were studied via nanosecond laser Z-scan method, and enhanced saturable absorption (SA) and reversed saturable absorption (RSA) effects were demonstrated. Using the femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption measurements, the carrier dynamics in the nonlinear response, as well as the enhancement mechanism of the composites was clarified.