Fabrication of Sb₂O₃ by an improved chemical reaction assisted vertical micro sublimation method and its saturable absorber performance

Two-dimensional molecular crystals (2DMCs) are emerging ideal materials for future high-performance optoelectronic devices. People are constantly exploring new methods to solve the problem of difficult growth. Here, we design an improved chemical reaction-assisted vertical micro sublimation method based on vertical micro sublimation for the growth of two-dimensional Sb₂O₃ inorganic molecular crystals for the first time. The saturation absorption characteristics of the self-made Sb₂O₃ 2DMCs were systematically tested, and the Q-switched laser output characteristics of Sb₂O₃ 2DMCs at 1 µm were verified by using Nd: GYAP mixed crystal. The maximum average output power of 231 mW was achieved at 1080.6 nm, corresponding shortest pulse with a duration of 472 ns and maximum pulse repetition rate of 376 kHz. The maximum single pulse energy and the maximum peak power of the laser output were 0.614 µJ and 1.3 W, respectively. The growth of other 2DMCs would be motivated and its potential applications in the field of ultrafast photonics would be expanded with our findings.