Nonlinear optical properties and Q-switched laser application of a novel Mo0.5Re0.5S2 ternary alloy material at 2 m

In this study, a novel ternary alloy using Mo0.5Re0.5S2 as a saturable absorber (SA) is prepared by liquid phase exfoliation method and successfully applied to a passively Q-switched Tm:YAlO3 (Tm:YAP) bulk laser for the first time. The nonlinear SA effect of the prepared Mo0.5Re0.5S2 SA at 2 m is characterized using the open-aperture Z-scan technique and results in a saturable intensity of 5.62 J cm−2 and modulation depth of 7.92%. Using Mo0.5Re0.5S2 as an SA, a 2 m Q-switched Tm:YAP laser is realized, generating a maximum output power of 0.957 W with a shortest pulse width of 857.5 ns and a maximum repetition rate of 95 kHz. The corresponding single pulse energy and peak power are 10.1 J and 11.5 W, respectively. These achievements indicate that Mo0.5Re0.5S2 could be an excellent and reliable SA for mid-infrared laser applications, and ternary transition metal disulfide alloys will bring new application opportunities to optoelectronic devices in the future.