Graphene Integrated Photonic Transceivers (GIPT)

移动数据流量预计将在未来十年以非常高的速度增长。5G用户（2026年+ 36亿）、5G覆盖范围（2025年约占人口的60%）和5G人均速度（2023年为x13）的增长正在挑战现有的移动传输基础设施。新的5G基础设施将拥有新的智能无线电天线系统，能够以低延迟向单个用户提供高达2Gbps的传输。这些将配备多个无线电元件，以执行大规模的多进多出功能，以及波束导向/形成。传统的电传输方式无法完成天线内的数据处理，需要一种基于射频集成电路与数字处理器之间的光数据交换的新方法。为了实现这些应用，光收发器需要高带宽密度、低成本、低功耗和室外可操作性。现有的光平台无法同时满足所有的需求。需要一种新的技术，能够以更高的速度处理大量数据，同时满足每Gbps的成本目标，并最大限度地减少能源消耗。石墨烯是光电应用的理想材料。它的光子特性与其他材料相比具有许多优点和互补性。GIPT将开发石墨烯集成光子收发器，利用石墨烯的独特特性，实现5G天线内光连接。GIPT将展示具有成本效益、高性能、低功耗和温度弹性的电吸收调制器和光电探测器，准备进入下一个开发和商业化步骤。

Mobile data traffic is predicted to grow at very high pace in the next decade. The increase of 5G users (+3.6Bn in 2026), 5G coverage (~60% of the population in 2025), and 5G per-capita speed (x13 in 2023) is challenging the existing mobile transport infrastructures.The new 5G infrastructure will have new and smart radio antenna systems, able to deliver up to 2Gbps to single users with low latency. These will be equipped with multiple radio elements in order to perform massive multiple-in multiple-out functions, together with beam steering/forming. The intra-antenna data process cannot be performed with traditional electric transport and a new approach is needed based on optical data exchange between radio-frequency integrated circuits and digital processors. High bandwidth density, low cost, low power consumption, and outdoor operativity are required for optical transceivers to enable such applications. Existing optical platforms cannot meet all the requirements simultaneously. A new technology is required, capable ofhandling large amounts of data at higher speeds whilst meeting cost per Gbps targets and minimising energy consumption. Graphene is an ideal material for optoelectronic applications. Its photonic properties give several advantages and complementarities over other materials. GIPT will develop a graphene-integrated photonic transceiver to enable the 5G intra-antenna optical connectivity by exploiting the unique properties of graphene. GIPT will demonstrate cost-effective, high-performance, low-power consumption, and temperature resilient, electro absorption modulators and photodetectors, ready to be taken to the next development and commercialisation steps.