Applied Sciences (Dec 2021)

Graphene on Silicon Photonics: Light Modulation and Detection for Cutting-Edge Communication Technologies

  • Siqi Yan,
  • Jeremy Adcock,
  • Yunhong Ding

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010313
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 313

Abstract

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Graphene—a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon in a single-layer honeycomb lattice nanostructure—has several distinctive optoelectronic properties that are highly desirable in advanced optical communication systems. Meanwhile, silicon photonics is a promising solution for the next-generation integrated photonics, owing to its low cost, low propagation loss and compatibility with CMOS fabrication processes. Unfortunately, silicon’s photodetection responsivity and operation bandwidth are intrinsically limited by its material characteristics. Graphene, with its extraordinary optoelectronic properties has been widely applied in silicon photonics to break this performance bottleneck, with significant progress reported. In this review, we focus on the application of graphene in high-performance silicon photonic devices, including modulators and photodetectors. Moreover, we explore the trend of development and discuss the future challenges of silicon-graphene hybrid photonic devices.

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