Q-Switched and Mode-Locked Er-doped fiber laser based on MAX phase Ti2AlC saturable absorber

•Highly stable and antioxidant saturable absorber based on MAX phase Ti2AlC was successfully prepared.•Mode-locked operation based on Ti2AlC-PVA SA in Er-doped fiber laser was firstly achieved.•The mode-locked ultrashort pulse width was 680 fs at 1559 nm.•The saturable absorber based on MAX phase Ti2AlC exhibits a saturable absorption of 2.21%. MAX phase materials, exhibiting excellent antioxidation, corrosion resistance and high electrical and optical conductivity, attract much attention. The nonlinear optical properties of the MAX phase Ti2AlC was demonstrated by measuring the saturable absorption of Ti2AlC- polyvinyl (PVA) film. The modulation depth of the Ti2AlC-PVA film is calculated to be 2.21%. Stable Q-switched and mode-locked pulses train were achieved in Erbium-doped fiber ring cavity by using Ti2AlC-PVA film as a saturable absorber. The maximum single pulse energy of the Q-switched laser was 92.8 nJ, and the pulse width of the mode-locked laser was 680 fs. This study shows the great potential of MAX phase materials for ultrashort laser pulses generation and provides some valuable design guidelines for the preparation of SAs based on MAX phase materials.