Nanoscale quantum dot photodetectors with high integratability for nanophotonic integrated circuits

目的：本项目的目标是展示用于纳米光子集成电路的新型高灵敏度和高带宽的纳米级光电探测器。该方法利用纳米晶量子点在纳米间隙电极中的自组装或溶液过程，实现了与各种纳米光子器件的高制造集成度。探索加入等离子体效应和新的制造工艺来降低隧道势垒，以提高灵敏度和带宽。智力优势：这项研究将展示新的设计和制造纳米级量子点光探测器，可以很容易地集成到纳米光子器件中。该器件结构利用集中的高电场来提高效率和电荷传输。优化量子点沉积的化学和条件的研究将为提高量子点器件的速度提供一条途径，这是量子点器件面临的主要挑战。等离子体在集中光场和提高量子效率方面的应用将有助于解决纳米光子学中普遍存在的光耦合问题。如果成功，这项研究将为完全集成的纳米光子光探测提供第一个解决方案。更广泛的影响：不断增长的纳米光子学领域增加了对更快、更小和更灵敏的芯片上光检测的需求。考虑到纳米光子学在材料和制造工艺上的差异，具有完全制造集成性的纳米级光电探测器尚未被证明。这项研究的成功可能会对纳米光子集成电路以及光学计算、通信和传感等更广泛的领域产生革命性的影响。这项研究还将为研究生和本科生提供令人兴奋的多学科培训机会，并通过多元化发展、教育和外联活动对社会产生更广泛的影响。

Objective: The objective of this program is to demonstrate new nanoscale photodetectors with high sensitivity and bandwidth for nanophotonic integrated circuits. The approach exploits self-assembly or solution-process of nanocrystal quantum dots in nanogap electrodes to achieve high fabrication integratability with varieties of nanophotonic components. Incorporation of plasmonic effects and new fabrication processes to reduce tunneling barriers are explored to enhance sensitivity and bandwidth.Intellectual merit: This research will demonstrate new design and fabrication of nanoscale quantum dot photodetectors that can be readily incorporated into nanophotonic device integration. The device structure utilizes concentrated high electric field for enhanced efficiency and charge transport. The research on optimizing chemistry and conditions for quantum dot deposition will offer a route to increased speed, a major challenge for quantum dot devices. The utility of plasmonics to concentrate optical field and enhance quantum efficiency will help addressing the prevailing question of optical coupling in nanophotonics. If successful, the research will provide a first solution to fully integratable nanophotonic photodetection. Broader impact: The growing field of Nanophotonics has increased the demand for faster, smaller, and more sensitive on-chip photodetection. Given the divergence in materials and fabrication processes in nanophotonics, a nanoscale photodetector with full fabrication integratability has yet to be demonstrated. Success of this research could have a transformative impact in nanophotonic integrated circuits and broader fields of optical computing, communications and sensing. This research will also provide exciting multidisciplinary training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, and lead to broader impact to the society through diversity development, education and outreach activities.