2D Semiconductors as On-Chip Light Sources for Integrated Nanophotonics

Area of Science:

• Nanophotonics
• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Integrating on-chip light sources into nanophotonic waveguides typically requires dissimilar materials, leading to challenges like lattice mismatch and defects.
• These defects reduce the performance of integrated photonic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a method for directly incorporating light sources into nanophotonic waveguides using van der Waals materials.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional material integration techniques in nanophotonics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized van der Waals materials, specifically the 2D semiconductor Molybdenum Diselenide (MoSe2).
• Employed standard dry viscoelastic polymer transfer techniques for facile material integration onto gold plasmonic nanowaveguides.
• Investigated the direct injection of photoluminescence from MoSe2 into on-chip waveguides.

Main Results:

• Successfully transferred MoSe2 onto gold plasmonic nanowaveguides.
• Demonstrated efficient photoluminescence injection from MoSe2 into the on-chip waveguides.
• Fabrication methods are compatible with large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturing.

Conclusions:

• Developed a cost-effective and scalable hybrid platform combining plasmonics and 2D semiconductors for integrated nanophotonics.
• This approach offers a promising solution for overcoming material integration challenges in on-chip light sources.