Monolithically integrated bacteriorhodopsin/semiconductor opto-electronic integrated circuit for a bio-photoreceiver

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Biophysics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) is a light-sensitive protein with potential for bio-photonic applications.
• Opto-electronic integrated circuits (OEICs) require efficient and high-speed photoreceivers.
• Integrating biological components with semiconductor electronics presents unique challenges and opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel opto-electronic integrated circuit (OEIC) by monolithically integrating bacteriorhodopsin (BR) with an InP-based amplifier circuit.
• To create a high-speed photoreceiver utilizing the unique properties of BR.
• To model the photochemical dynamics of BR and simulate its photoresponse.

Main Methods:

• Monolithic integration of BR with an InP-based amplifier circuit.
• Epitaxial growth of field-effect transistors and application of semiconductor device fabrication techniques.
• Selective area BR electro-deposition for device fabrication.
• Characterization of the integrated photoreceiver's responsivity, linearity, and dynamic range.
• Photochemical cycle modeling and equivalent circuit simulation of BR photoresponse.

Main Results:

• Successful monolithic integration of BR with an InP amplifier to form a high-speed photoreceiver.
• The integrated photoreceiver exhibits a responsivity of 175 V/W and a linear photoresponse.
• A dynamic range of 16 dB was achieved with 594 nm photoexcitation.
• The developed equivalent circuit accurately simulates the measured BR photoresponse, validating the photochemical model.

Conclusions:

• The developed OEIC, integrating BR with an InP amplifier, functions as a high-speed photoreceiver.
• The device demonstrates significant responsivity and linearity, suitable for optical detection.
• The study validates the potential of bio-electronic integration for advanced photonic devices.