Nanostructured Few-Layer Graphene with Superior Optical Limiting Properties Fabricated by a Catalytic Steam Etching Process

Tailoring the morphology and structure of graphene can result in novel properties for advanced applications. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of nanostructured few-layer graphene through a mild etching process via catalytic steam gasification of carbon by Fe nanoparticles (NPs). Controlling the reaction temperature, steam concentration, and the loading density of the NPs enables the finetuning of the etching level of graphene. Well-defined nanotrenches with a width of less than 25 nm were formed by channeling of the catalytic NPs. Etching caves and  quasisemicircular etched edges were observed as well. The nonlinear optical properties of the resulting nanostructured graphene were studied under a 532 nm nanosecond pulse laser through an open-aperture apparatus. At the same level of the linear extinction coefficient, it exhibits superior optical limiting performance in comparison with pristine graphene and C60, showing a large potential in nanophotonic devices. This enhancement is ascribed to the defects formed by etching resulting in a finite band gap in nanostructured graphene.Fil: Sun, Zhenyu. Ruhr-University Bochum. Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry; Alemania;Fil: Dong, Ningning. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics. Key Laboratory of Materials for High-Power Laser; China;Fil: Xie, Kunpen. Ruhr-University Bochum. Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry; Alemania;Fil: Xia, Wei. Ruhr-University Bochum. Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry; Alemania;Fil: König, Dennis. Ruhr-University Bochum. Institute for Materials. Department of Mechanical Engineering; Alemania;Fil: Tharamani, Chikka Nagaiah. Ruhr-University Bochum. Analytische Chemie-Elektroanalytik & Sensorik; Alemania;Fil: Sanchez, Miguel Dario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Física del Sur; Argentina; Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física; Argentina; Ruhr-University Bochum. Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry; Alemania;Fil: Ebbinghaus, Petra. Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH; Alemania;Fil: Erbe, Andreas. Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH; Alemania;Fil: Zhang, Xiaoyan. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics. Key Laboratory of Materials for High-Power Laser; China;Fil: Ludwig, Alfred. Ruhr-University Bochum. Institute for Materials. Department of Mechanical Engineering; Alemania;Fil: Schuhmann, Wolfgang. Ruhr-University Bochum. Analytische Chemie-Elektroanalytik & Sensorik; Alemania;Fil: Wang, Jun. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics. Key Laboratory of Materials for High-Power Laser; China;Fil: Muhler, Martin. Ruhr-University Bochum. Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry; Alemania