Highly selective sorting of semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes exhibiting light emission at telecom wavelengths

International audienceSingle wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are known for their exceptional electronic properties. However, most of the synthesis methods lead to the production of a mixture of carbon nanotubes having different chiralities associated with metallic (m-SWNTs) and semiconducting (s-SWNTs) characteristics. For application purposes, effective methods for separating these species are highly desired. Here, we report a protocol for achieving a highly selective separation of s-SWNTs that exhibit a fundamental optical transition centered at 1,550 nm. We employ a polymer assisted sorting approach, and the influence of preparation methods on the optical and transport performances of the separated nanotubes is analyzed. As even traces of m-SWNTs can critically affect performances, we aim to produce samples that do not contain any detectable fraction of residual m-SWNTs

Hybrid integration of carbon nanotubes into silicon slot photonic structures

International audienceSilicon photonics, due to its compatibility with the CMOS platform and unprecedented integration capability, has become the preferred solution for the implementation of next generation optical interconnects. However, current Si photonics require on-chip integration of several materials, including III-V for lasing, doped silicon for modulation and Ge for detection. The very different requirements of these materials result in complex fabrication processes that offset the cost-effectiveness of the Si photonics approach. We are developing an alternative route towards the integration of optoelectronic devices in Si photonic, relying on the use of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). SWNTs can be considered as a Si compatible material able to emit, modulate and detect near-infrared light. Hence, they hold a unique potential to implement all active devices in the Si photonics platform. In addition, solution processed SWNTs can be integrated on Si using spin-coating techniques, obviating the need of complex epitaxial growth or chip bonding approaches. Here, we report on our recent progress in the coupling of SWNTs light emission into optical resonators implemented on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform

Integration of Carbon Nanotubes in Silicon Strip and Slot Waveguide Micro-Ring Resonators

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Coupling of semiconductor carbon nanotubes emission with silicon photonic micro ring resonators

International audienceHybrid structures are needed to fully exploit the great advantages of Si photonics and several approaches have been addressed where Si devices are bonded to different materials and nanostructures. Here we study the use of semiconductor carbon nanotubes for emission in the 1300 nm wavelength range to functionalize Si photonic structures in view of optoelectronic applications. The Si micro-rings are fully characterized by near field forward resonant scattering with 100 nm resolution. We show that both TE and TM modes can be addressed on the top of the micro-rings in a vectorial imaging of the in-plane polarization components. We coupled the Si micro-resonators with selected carbon nanotubes for high photoluminescence emission. Coupling nanotubes with the evanescent tails in air of the electric field localized in the photonic modes of the micro-resonators is demonstrated by sharp resonances over imposed to the nanotube emission bands. By mapping the Si and the nanotube emission we demonstrate that strong enhancement of the nanotube photoluminescence can be achieved both in the photonic modes of micro-disks and slot micro-rings, whenever the spatial overlap between nano-emitters and photonic modes is fulfilled

Coupling of semiconductor carbon nanotubes emission with silicon photonic microring resonators

International audienceHybrid structures are needed to fully exploit the great advantages of Si photonics and different approaches have been addressed where Si devices are bonded to different materials and nanostructures. Here we experimentally study the use of semiconductor carbon nanotubes for emission in the 1300 nm wavelength range to functionalize Si photonic structures in view of optoelectronic applications. The Si microrings are fully characterized by near field forward resonant scattering with 100 nm resolution. We show that both TE and TM modes can be addressed on the top of the microrings in a vectorial imaging of the in-plane polarization components. We coupled the Si microresonators with selected carbon nanotubes for high photoluminescence emission. Coupling of the nanotubes with the evanescent tails in air of the electric field localized in the photonic modes of the microresonators is demonstrated by sharp resonances overimposed to the nanotube emission bands. By mapping the Si and the nanotubes emission we demonstrate that strong enhancement of the nanotubes photoluminescence can be achieved both in the photonic modes of microdisks and slot microrings, whenever the spatial overlap between nanoemitters and photonic modes is fulfilled