Integrated collinear refractive index sensor with Ge PIN photodiodes

Refractive index sensing is a highly sensitive and label-free detection method for molecular binding events. Commercial implementations of biosensing concepts based on plasmon resonances typically require significant external instrumentation such as microscopes and spectrometers. Few concepts exist that are based on direct integration of plasmonic nanostructures with optoelectronic devices for on-chip integration. Here, we present a CMOS-compatible refractive index sensor consisting of a Ge heterostructure PIN diode in combination with a plasmonic nanohole array structured directly into the diode Al contact metallization. In our devices, the photocurrent can be used to detect surface refractive index changes under simple top illumination and without the aid of signal amplification circuitry. Our devices exhibit large sensitivities > 1000 nm per refractive index unit in bulk refractive index sensing and could serve as prototypes to leverage the cost-effectiveness of the CMOS platform for ultra-compact, low-cost biosensors.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, supporting information with 11 pages and 11 figures attache

Advanced Photonic Sciences

The new emerging field of photonics has significantly attracted the interest of many societies, professionals and researchers around the world. The great importance of this field is due to its applicability and possible utilization in almost all scientific and industrial areas. This book presents some advanced research topics in photonics. It consists of 16 chapters organized into three sections: Integrated Photonics, Photonic Materials and Photonic Applications. It can be said that this book is a good contribution for paving the way for further innovations in photonic technology. The chapters have been written and reviewed by well-experienced researchers in their fields. In their contributions they demonstrated the most profound knowledge and expertise for interested individuals in this expanding field. The book will be a good reference for experienced professionals, academics and researchers as well as young researchers only starting their carrier in this field

3D mapping of nanoscale physical properties of VCSEL devices

There is clear lack of methods that allows studies of the nanoscale structure of the VCSEL devices1 that are mainly focused on the roughness of the DBR, or using FIB cross-sectioning and TEM analysis of failed devices to observe the mechanism of the degradation. Here we present a recently developed advanced approach that combines Ar-ion nano-cross-sectioning with material sensitive SPM2 to reveal the internal structure of the VCSEL across the whole stack of top and bottom DBR including active area. We report for the first time the direct observation of local mechanical properties, electric potential and conductance through the 3D VCSEL stack. In order to achieve this, we use beam exit cross-section polishing that creates an oblique section with sub-nm surface roughness through the whole VCSEL structure that is fully suitable for the subsequent cross-sectional SPM (xSPM) studies. We used three different SPM measurement modes – nanomechanical local elastic moduli mapping via Ultrasonic Force Microscopy (UFM) 3, surface potential mapping via Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and mapping of injected current (local conductivity) via Scanning Spreading Resistance Microscopy (SSRM). xSPM allowed to observe the resulting geometry of the whole device, including active cavity multiple quantum wells (MQW), to obtain profiles of differential doping of the DBR stack, profile of electric potential in the active cavity, and spatial variation of current injection in the individual QW in MQW area. Moreover, by applying forward bias to the VCSEL to initiate laser emission, we were able to observe distribution of the potential in the working regime, paving the way to understanding the 3D current flow in the complete device. Finally, we use finite element modelling (FEM) that confirm the experimental results that of the measurements of the local doping profiles and charge distribution in the active area of the VCSEL around the oxide current confinement aperture. While we show that the new xSPM methodology allowed advanced in-situ studies of VCSELs, it establishes a highly efficient characterisation platform for much broader area of compound semiconductor materials and devices. REFERENCES. 1. D. T. Mathes, R. Hull, K. Choquette, K. Geib, A. Allerman, J. Guenter, B. Hawkins and B. Hawthorne, in Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers Vii, edited by C. Lei and S. P. Kilcoyne (2003), Vol. 4994, pp. 67-82. 2. A. J. Robson, I. Grishin, R. J. Young, A. M. Sanchez, O. V. Kolosov and M. Hayne, Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces 5 (8), 3241-3245 (2013). 3. J. L. Bosse, P. D. Tovee, B. D. Huey and O. V. Kolosov, Journal of Applied Physics 115 (14), 144304 (2014)

Nano and Nanostructured Materials for Optical Applications

Nano and nanostructured materials offer unique physical and chemical properties that differ considerably from their bulk counterparts. For decades, due to their fascinating properties, they have been extensively explored and found to be beneficial in numerous applications. These materials are key components in many cutting-edge optic and photonic technologies, including photovoltaics, waveguides and sensors. In this dissertation, the uses of nano and nanostructured materials for optical applications are investigated in the context of optical limiting, three dimensional displays, and optical sensing. Nanomaterials with nonlinear optical responses are promising candidates for self-activating optical limiters. In the first part of this study, optical limiting properties of unexplored nanomaterials are investigated. A photoacoustic detection technique is developed as an alternative characterization method for studying optical nonlinearities. This was done with an indigenously developed setup for measuring the photoacoustic signals generated from samples excited with a pulse laser. A theoretical model for understanding the experimental observations is presented. In addition, the advantages of this newly developed technique over the existing methods are demonstrated. Blending optical sensitizers with photoconducting polymers and chromophores results in a polymer composite that is able to record a light grating. This composite can be used as recording media in 3D holographic display technology. Here, 2D nano materials, like graphenes, are used as optical sensitizers to improve the response time of a photorefractive polymer. The addition of graphenes to a PATPD/ECZ/7-DCST composite results in a three-fold enhancement in response time and therefore faster recording speed of the medium. The faster build-up time is attributed to better charge generation and mobility due to the presence of graphenes in the composite. Lastly, a facile nanofabrication technique is developed to produce metallic nanostructures with a tunable plasmonic response. The enhancement of the light-matter interactions due to these nanostructures in sensing an analyte is demonstrated

Biogratings: Diffractive Transducers for Biosensing in Photonic Platforms

Tesis por compendio[ES] El desarrollo científico y tecnológico de las últimas décadas ha dado lugar a sistemas sensores capaces de obtener, procesar y transmitir información sobre multitud de aspectos físicos y químicos, y utilizarla para mejorar aspectos clave de multitud de áreas de nuestra sociedad. Los sensores químicos son dispositivos compactos y miniaturizados capaces de ofrecer soluciones alternativas a las técnicas de análisis instrumental convencionales. En especial, los biosensores han adquirido gran relevancia por los avances que han supuesto para sectores estratégicos como el diagnóstico clínico, la industria alimentaria y el medio ambiente. Los biosensores ópticos se basan en interacciones entre la luz y la materia para transducir eventos de bioreconocimiento y presentan prestaciones importantes como la estabilidad, inmunidad a estímulos externos y versatilidad en el desarrollo de aproximaciones sin marcaje (label-free). Este último aspecto suele aprovechar fenómenos nanoscópicos y su desarrollo se encuentra muy ligado al progreso de la nanociencia y nanotecnología. Un aspecto clave en el biosensado sin marcaje consiste en descubrir y desarrollar nuevas estrategias de transducción. En este sentido, aunque se encuentren aun en una etapa temprana de desarrollo, los biosensores difractivos presentan un gran potencial en términos de simplicidad, miniaturización, y capacidad para minimizar señales no deseadas fruto de interacciones no específicas, entre otros aspectos.[CA] El desenvolupament científic i tecnològic de les últimes dècades ha donat lloc a sistemes sensors capaços d'obtindre, processar i transmetre informació sobre multitud d'aspectes físics i químics, i utilizar-la per a millorar aspectes clau de multitud d'arees de la nostra societat. Els sensors químics són dispositius compactes i miniaturitzats capaços d'oferir solucions alternatives a les tècniques d'analisi instrumental convencionals. Especialment, els biosensors han adquirit gran rellevància pels avanços que han suposat per als sectors estratègics com el diagnòstic clínic, la industria alimentària i el medi ambient. Els biosensors òptics es basen en interaccions entre la llum i la matèria per a transduir esdeveniments de bioreconèixement i presenten prestacions importants com estabilitat, immunitat a estímuls externs i versatilitat en el desenvolupament d'aproximacions sense marcatge (label-free). Aquest últim aspecte sol aprofitat fenòmens nanoscòpics i el seu desenvolupament es troba molt lligat al progrés de la nanociència i nanotecnologia. Un aspecte clau en el biosensat sense marcatge consisteix a descobrir i desenvolupar noves estratègies de transducció. En aquest sentit, encara que es troben fins i tot en una etapa primerenca de desenvolupament, els biosensors difractius presenten un gran potencial en termes de simplicitat, miniaturització, i capacitat per a minimitzar senyals no desitjats fruit d'interaccions no específiques, entre altres aspectes.[EN] The scientific and technological progress in recent decades has given rise to sensor systems capable of obtaining, processing, and transmitting information on a multitude of physical and chemical aspects and using it to improve key aspects of many areas of our society. Chemical sensors are compact, miniaturized devices capable of offering alternative solutions to conventional instrumental analysis techniques. In particular, biosensors have become highly relevant due to the progress they have brought to strategic sectors such as clinical diagnostics, the food industry, and the environment. Optical biosensors rely on interactions between light and matter to transduce biosensing events and provide important features such as stability, immunity to external stimuli, and versatility in the development of label-free approaches. This last aspect usually exploits nanoscopic phenomena and its development in closely linked to the progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology. A key aspect of label-free biosensing is the discovery and development of new transduction strategies. In this regard, although they are at an early stage of development, diffractive biosensors offer great potential in terms of simplicity, miniaturization, and the ability to minimize unwanted signals from non-specific interactions, among other aspects.This work was financially supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) co-funded by the European Union “ERDF A way of making Europe” (PID2019-110713RB-I00, TED2021-132584B-C21, PID2019-110877GB-I00), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (TEC2016-80385-P), Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2019/048 PROMETEO/2020/094, PROMETEO/2021/015, IDIFEDER/2021/046). A.J.D. ackowledges the FPI-UPV 2017 grant program. The authors acknowledge Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona CNM-CSIC for the support in the fabrication of the measured chip samples on the Multiproject CNM-VLC silicon nitride technology platform.Juste Dolz, AM. (2023). Biogratings: Diffractive Transducers for Biosensing in Photonic Platforms [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/194251Compendi

Diseño y caracterización de estructuras resonantes y estrategias de concentración avanzada aplicadasa dispositivos fotónicos

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Departamento de Óptica, leída el 23-09-2020Efficient low-cost optoelectronic devices are used for many applications, for example, energy production, and sensing. The development of these devices can be step-forward using nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic structures. In this dissertation we propose, design, and analyze several nanostructures to improve the performance of these devices. For energy applications, we select amorphous silicon hydrogenated, and perovskite/crystallinesilicon tandem solar cells. We choose amorphous silicon solar cells because this material is abundant, non-toxic, long-life compared to organic solar cells, and can be fabricated at a low cost. The tandem perovskite/crystalline silicon solar cells are devices with potential power conversion efficiency > 30 %. Our designs are based on dielectric nanostructures. We applied a 1D nanostructure array to the top and bottom of amorphous silicon hydrogenated solar cells, in two separate designs. The absorption enhancement within the auxiliary layers of these devices is dissipated as heat and partially mitigate the defects resulted from the Staebler Wronski effect. A metasurface in the form of multilayer gratings embedded in the active layer of the perovskite top cell of the tandem device, improves the absorption efficiency in the whole device. A sawtooth periodic back texture has been optimized and tested to work with the metasurfacef or further improvement of the device performance. These nanostructures are arranged to maximize the absorption efficiency of the selected solar cells, mainly by reducing their total reflectance. The analysis and calculations are completed by modeling the conditions of the sun illumination, i.e, unpolarized light, and oblique incidence. The performance of the devices is calculated under these conditions...Los dispositivos optoelectrónicos eficientes y de bajo coste se utilizan en muchas aplicaciones. Por ejemplo, en la producción de energía y en sensores. La incorporacion de estructuras nanofotónicas y nanoplasmónicas es un paso adelante en el desarrollo de estos dispositivos. En esta tesis doctoral proponemos, diseñamos y analizamos varias nano-estructuras que mejoran el rendimiento de estos dispositivos. En aplicaciones para energía, hemos selecionado células de silicio amorfo hidrogenado, y células tándem de perovskitas y silicio cristalino. Hemos elegido las células solares de silicio cristalino porque es un material abundante, no tóxico, de larga vida comparada con las células orgánicas y fabricadas a bajo coste. Las células tándem perovskita/silicio cristalino son dispositivos con eficiencias de conversión superiores al 30 %. Nuestros diseños están basados en nano-estructuras dieléctricas. Hemos aplicado una nano-estructura periódica 1D a la superficie anterior y posterior de células solares de silicio amorfo hidrogenado en dos diseños separados. El aumento de la absorción en las capas auxiliares de estas células se disipa como calor y mitiga parcialmente los defectos producidos por el efecto Staebler-Wronski. Una metasuperficie hecha con redes apiladas en capas incluidas en las capa activa de la porción superior de una célula tándem mejora la eficiencia de absorción de todo el dispositivo...Fac. de Ciencias FísicasTRUEunpu

Silicon nano wires solar cell

Improving the optical absorption capability of solar cells\u27 materials is a crucial factor in increasing their power conversion efficiency. To this end, the absorption can be enhanced by minimizing the reflection and the transmission out from the absorbing layer. While the reflection can be minimized using an antireflection coating, the transmission can be minimized by exploiting a light- trapping mechanism. In this thesis, the Si nanowires have been utilized to enhance the absorption and photocurrent without the need for antireflection coating, and provide high field localization, which in turn enhances the overall efficiency of the solar cell. Vertically orientated single crystalline silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays with controlled diameters have been fabricated via a metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) method. The diameter of the fabricated nanowires is controlled by simply varying the etching time in HF/H2O2 solution. The fabricated SiNWs have diameters ranging from 117 to 650 nm and length from 8 to 18 μm. The optical measurements show a significant difference in the reflectance/absorption of the SiNWs with different diameters, where the reflectance increases with increasing the diameter of the SiNWs. The optical absorption also has been measured at different incident light angle to determine the best angle for absorption. The best absorption angle for different diameters was 10o.The SiNWs showed significant photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra with peaks lying between 380 and 670 nm. The PL intensity increases as the diameter increases and shows red shift for peaks at ~ 670 nm. The increase or decrease of reflectivity is coincident with PL intensity at wavelength ~ 660 nm. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) confirm the high crystallinity of the fabricated SiNWs. In addition, the Raman spectra showed a shift in the first order transverse (1TO) band toward lower frequencies compared to that usually seen for c-Si. The current-voltage characteristics have also been investigated using photoelectrochemical cell. The measurements have been done in two electrolytes; 10% HF 10% and hydrobromic acid (40%) and bromine (3%). The measurements have been done for the fabricated Si nanowires with different diameters under dark and illumination conditions. The resulted photocurrent decreases with increasing the diameter of SiNWs, which has been explained based on the Debye length of SiNWs. Full wave electromagnetic analysis has been performed using finite difference time domain simulations (FDTD) to confirm the effect of change of diameter on the optical properties of the nanowires. The simulation results show good agreement with the experimental findings for the SiNWs of different diameters. Also, the simulation has been done for different incident light angles to investigate the best incident angle that results in the highest absorption and minimum reflection

Nevada Test Site-Directed Research, Development, and Demonstration

The Nevada Test Site-Directed Research, Development, and Demonstration (SDRD) program completed a very successful year of research and development activities in FY 2005. Fifty new projects were selected for funding this year, and five FY 2004 projects were brought to conclusion. The total funds expended by the SDRD program were $5.4 million, for an average per project cost of just under$100,000. Two external audits of SDRD accounting practices were conducted in FY 2005. Both audits found the program's accounting practices consistent with the requirements of DOE Order 413.2A, and one included the observation that the NTS contractor ''did an exceptional job in planning and executing year-start activities.'' Highlights for the year included: the filing of 18 invention disclosures for intellectual property generated by FY 2005 projects; programmatic adoption of 17 FY 2004 SDRD-developed technologies; participation in the tri-lab Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) and SDRD program review that was broadly attended by NTS, NNSA, LDRD, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security representatives; peer reviews of all FY 2005 projects; and the successful completion of 55 R&D projects, as presented in this report

Atomic Layer Deposition Conformality and Process Optimization: Transitioning from 2-Dimensional Planar Systems to 3-Dimensional Nanostructures

Conformal coatings are becoming increasingly important as technology heads towards the nanoscale. The exceptional thickness control (atomic scale) and conformality (uniformity over nanoscale 3D features) of atomic layer deposition (ALD) has made it the process of choice for numerous applications found in microelectronics and nanotechnology with a wide variety of ALD processes and resulting materials. While its benefits derive from self-limited saturating surface reactions of alternating gas precursors, process optimization for ALD conformality is often difficult as process parameters, such as dosage, purge, temperature and pressure are often interdependent with one another, especially within the confines of an ultra-high aspect ratio nanopore. Therefore, processes must be optimized to achieve self-limiting saturated surfaces and avoid parasitic CVD-like reactions in order to maintain thickness control and achieve uniformity and conformality at the atomic level while preserving the desired materials' properties (electrical, optical, compositional, etc.). This work investigates novel approaches to optimize ALD conformality when transitioning from a 2D planar system to a 3D ultra-high aspect ratio nanopore in the context of a cross-flow wafer-scale reactor used to highlight deviations from ideal ALD behavior. Porous anodic alumina (PAA) is used as a versatile platform to analyze TiO2 ALD profiles via ex-situ SEM, EDS and TEM. Results of TiO2 ALD illustrate enhanced growth rates that can occur when the precursors titanium tetraisopropoxide and ozone were used at minimal saturation doses for ALD and for considerably higher doses. The results also demonstrate that ALD process recipes that achieve excellent across-wafer uniformity across full 100 mm wafers do not produce conformal films in ultra-high aspect ratio nanopores. The results further demonstrate that conformality is determined by precursor dose, surface residence time, and purge time, creating large depletion gradients down the length of the nanopore. Also, deposition of ALD films over sharp surface features are very uniform, and verified by profile evolution modeling. This behavior, in contrast to that in high aspect ratio structures, suggests strongly that detailed dynamics, local flow conditions (e.g. viscous vs molecular), surface residence time, and ALD surface reaction kinetics play a complex role in determining ALD profiles for high aspect ratio features