2D group-VA fluorinated antimonene: synthesis and saturable absorption

A new derivative of antimonene named fluorinated antimonene was synthesized using the method of ionic liquid-assisted electrochemical exfoliation and synchronous fluorination. Passive Q-switched pulses were produced from a Nd:LuAG laser with fluorinated antimonene, having a pulse width of 326.7 ns and a repetition rate of 733.1 kHz demonstrating its potential application as a saturable absorber. Density functional theory calculations revealed that compared with pure antimonene with an indirect bandgap, fluorinated antimonene exhibits a direct bandgap modulated by the fluorination degree showing that fluorinated antimonene would be applied as optical devices beyond its application as a saturable absorber.