WSe₂ Light-Emitting Device Coupled to an h-BN Waveguide.

Area of Science:

• Nanophotonics
• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are crucial for optical information processing.
• Integrating active and passive devices in PICs has advanced significantly.
• A major challenge remains the integration of efficient light sources into PICs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate on-chip light generation and waveguiding using a novel 2D material-based photonic platform.
• To enable the integration of electrically driven optoelectronic devices within photonic structures.
• To overcome limitations of current light source integration in PICs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of van der Waals heterostructures combining transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN).
• Integration of light-emitting devices based on exciton recombination in TMDs.
• Patterning of the heterostructure into photonic waveguides using hBN slabs.

Main Results:

• Successful on-chip light generation from TMDs within the photonic structure.
• Achieved waveguide-coupled light emission via hBN photonic waveguides.
• Demonstrated a functional van der Waals heterostructure for integrated optoelectronics.

Conclusions:

• This work presents a key component for future integrated van der Waals optoelectronics.
• The 2D material-based platform facilitates on-chip light generation and waveguiding.
• This approach offers a promising route for overcoming light source integration challenges in PICs.