Bridging the gap between surface physics and photonics

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Surface Physics
• Semiconductor Technology

Background:

• Photonic device performance is limited by semiconductor surface defects, causing photo-electric losses.
• Challenges include signal attenuation, light absorption, carrier recombination, and leakage currents.
• Current passivation methods require atomic-scale understanding of surface phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evolving research connecting surface physics to photonic device passivation.
• To identify open questions and potential solutions for enhancing device performance.
• To bridge the gap between fundamental surface science and practical photonic applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of research on wet chemically cleaned semiconductor surfaces versus ultrahigh vacuum studies.
• Emphasis on understanding embedded interfaces formed by thin films on semiconductor crystals.
• Integration of quantum mechanical simulation methods for interface property analysis.

Main Results:

• Wet chemically cleaned surfaces differ from ultrahigh vacuum studied surfaces.
• Embedded interfaces in devices complicate atomic and electronic structure measurements.
• Metal-semiconductor interfaces are crucial for carrier transmission in photonic devices.

Conclusions:

• Atomic-scale control of semiconductor surfaces is key to improving photonic devices.
• Combining surface physics insights with photonic engineering is essential.
• Low-resistive, passivated contacts with ultrathin tunneling barriers are promising for reducing electrical losses.