Recent Advances in Graphene-Enabled Silicon-Based High-Speed Optoelectronic Devices—A Review

Abstract

Silicon (Si) photonics has emerged as a prominent technology for meeting the escalating requirements of high-speed data transmission in optical communication systems. These systems need to be compact, energy-efficient, and capable of handling large amounts of data, driven by the advent of next-generation communication devices. Recently, there have been significant activities in exploring graphene within silicon-based components to enhance the overall performance metrics of optoelectronic subsystems. Graphene’s high mobility of charge carriers makes it appealing for the next generation of high-performance devices, especially in high-speed optoelectronics. However, due to its zero bandgap, graphene is unlikely to replace silicon entirely, but it exhibits potential as a catalyst for silicon-based devices, namely in high-speed electronics and optical modulators, where its distinctive characteristics can facilitate progress in silicon photonics and other fields. This paper aims to provide an objective review of the advances made within the realm of graphene-integrated Si photonics for high-speed light modulation and detection.

Keywords

• silicon photonics
• electro-optic modulators
• thermo-optic modulators
• photodetectors