Polarization state of light manipulation via MXene driven all optical modulator

• MXene is capable to adjust the polarization state of light via photothermal and thermo-optic effects. • Higher polarization modulation efficiency is observed at lower pump power. • MXene polarization modulator demonstates minimum hysterisis and stable over 1 hour period, confirming its reversibility and stability. MXene, a promising class of emerging material, exhibits unique optical properties. By depositing MXene on side polished fiber (SPF), a simple polarization modulator is realized. The energy supplied by 980 nm laser diode is absorbed by MXene due to its excellent photothermal conversion which subsequently raises the temperature of MXene coated SPF. As MXene also reveals thermo-optic characteristics, its refractive index undergoes changes in response to temperature. When incident light is injected into the modulator, its state of polarization (SOP) rotates with pump power. Total azimuth rotation is estimated at 75.24° by increasing the pump power while its efficiency is confirmed at 0.7599°/mW, within the pump power range of 0 mW to 88.6 mW. This work demonstrates the photothermal and thermo-optic capabilities of MXene, highlighting its potential which can contribute to industrial growth and innovation of photonics engineering industries.