Cu2-xSe　quantum　dots　(QDs)　were　synthesized　by　organometallic　synthesis　methods.　Due　to　heavy　self　doping,　the　Cu2-xSe　QDs　exhibit　particle　plasmon　resonance　in　the　near-infrared.　Transient　absorption　spectroscopic　investigation　revealed　strong　nonlinear　optical　absorption　and　bleaching　performance　of　the　QDs　under　femtosecond　pulse　excitation,　which　enabled　the　Cu2-xSe　QDs　to　be　excellent　saturable　absorbers　and　applied　in　Q-switched　or　mode-locked　lasers.　A　passively　Q-switched　Yb3+:YAG　solid-state　laser　at　1.03　mu　m　was　achieved　by　coating　Cu2-xSe　QDs　as　saturable　absorbers　onto　one　of　the　output　coupler　of　the　V-shaped　linear　cavity.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.