A Review on Graphene-Based Light Emitting Functional Devices

Area of Science:

• Nanophotonics
• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• The demand for nanoscale light sources persists despite advances in nanophotonics.
• Graphene's unique electronic properties, including Dirac electrons and tunable surface polarities, enable novel light-emitting applications.
• Two-dimensional (2-D) materials like graphene are crucial for developing flexible, thin, and robust optoelectronic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of recent advancements in graphene-based light-emitting devices.
• To analyze various light emission mechanisms in graphene, including thermal, electroluminescence, and plasmon-assisted emission.
• To discuss the future potential and challenges of graphene light emitters in areas like optical modulators and sensors.

Main Methods:

• Review of theoretical investigations and experimental demonstrations of graphene light-emitting devices.
• Analysis of different light emission aspects: thermal, electroluminescence, and plasmon-assisted.
• Exploration of applications in optoelectronics, plasmonics, optical modulators, interconnects, and sensing.

Main Results:

• Graphene-based materials are suitable for creating 2-D, flexible, thin, and robust light-emitting sources.
• Diverse emission mechanisms (thermal, electroluminescence, plasmon-assisted) are feasible in graphene devices.
• Significant progress has been made through both theoretical and experimental research.

Conclusions:

• Graphene light-emitting devices represent a leading platform for next-generation optoelectronics.
• Future applications in optical modulators, interconnects, and sensing are promising.
• Addressing current technological challenges is key to realizing the full potential of these emerging devices.