Phototransducers with quantum materials for power + communications over optical fiber systems (PowerCom)

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The next industrial revolution will arise out of the Internet of Things: vast numbers of devices will exchange copious data at high rates, becoming one of the world's largest hardware technology markets. Systems interconnected by copper are limited in data rate and can be degraded by electromagnetic interference. Transferring data onto optical fibre protects against such interference and raises the data rate ceiling, but adds cost of fibre to the copper hardware base. If both data and power can be transferred to optical fibre, systems are simplified, data rate ceilings are raised, costs are reduced, and interference is eliminated.Optical power links can in principle be achieved using photonic devices based on the extraordinarily rich III-V compound semiconductor materials family, with natural direct bandgap and crystalline quality. Optical power can be generated with III-V laser or LED devices, then carried on multi-mode or single-mode optical fibre, and converted back to electrical power using another III-V device. Key to success is achieving high conversion efficiencies, which theory has shown can approach 100%. The ensemble of device and design expertise capable of this architecture has been established in SUNLAB at uOttawa, and at uWaterloo. Present industrial state-of-the-art devices have been demonstrated by our Canadian partner, Azastra Opto, achieving ~70% efficient power receivers. This project will extend this technology to create a new class of devices, previously unavailable, with very high efficiencies capable of supporting commercially viable optical power/data links. The work will be done in two stages: the first stage will demonstrate techniques for improved efficiencies at the present wavelengths; the second stage will add nanostructures (quantum dots) and materials selections at new wavelengths, essential to success.