Recent Advances and Challenges in Ultrafast Photonics Enabled by Metal Nanomaterials

• Published in: Advanced optical materials 2022-06, Vol.10 (11), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Wang, Gang, Liu, Tingyi, Chao, Jiale, Jin, Hong, Liu, Jiayao, Zhang, Han, Lyu, Wenhao, Yin, Peng, Al‐Ghamdi, Ahmed, Wageh, Swelm, Fu, Bo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: integration methods; Laser cavities; Materials science; metal nanomaterials; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nonlinear optics; Nonlinear response; Optical properties; Optics; Photonics; Polymer films; Sandwich structures; Silver; synthesis methods; Ultrafast lasers; ultrafast photonics
• ISSN: 2195-1071; 2195-1071
• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202200443

Nanomaterials with outstanding optical properties are widely used in ultrafast photonics. Especially, metal nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention in recent years owing to the surface plasmon resonance that further enhances their nonlinear optical response, making them suitable for generating ultrafast pulses in a wide range of wavebands. Herein, the fabrication and integration processes of typical metal nanomaterials such as gold, silver, and copper, as well as their applications in ultrafast lasers are reviewed. The synthesis methods of metal nanomaterials, which can be divided into dry and wet methods, are first introduced with their characteristics and advantages summarized. Moreover, the integration approaches that are used to incorporate metal nanomaterials into laser cavities are discussed, where sandwich structure based on polymer film and deposition method, as well as evanescent‐wave structure based on D‐shaped and tapered fiber are demonstrated. Besides, the state of the art of typical ultrafast lasers enabled by metal nanoparticles is systematically reviewed. Finally, current challenges and perspectives on the development of ultrafast photonics enabled by metal nanomaterials are proposed. The state of the art of ultrafast photonics enabled by metal nanomaterials is reviewed, where synthesis and integration methods for producing saturable absorbers with metal nanomaterials are also summarized. In addition, challenges and future perspectives are proposed, including improved fabrication strategies, mid‐infrared operation, novel metal‐based nanomaterials, and metal metasurfaces in ultrafast photonics.