Roadmap on chalcogenide photonics

Abstract

Alloys of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, often referred to as chalcogenide semiconductors offer a highly versatile, compositionally-controllable material platform for a variety of passive and active photonic applications. They are optically nonlinear, photoconductive materials with wide transmission windows that present various high- and low-index dielectric, low-epsilon and plasmonic properties across ultra-violet, visible and infrared frequencies, in addition to an ultra-fast, non-volatile, electrically-/optically-induced switching capability between phase states with markedly different electromagnetic properties. This roadmap collection presents an in-depth account of the critical role that chalcogenide semiconductors play within various traditional and emerging photonic technology platforms. The potential of this field going forward is demonstrated by presenting context and outlook on selected socioeconomically important research streams utilizing chalcogenide semiconductors. To this end, this roadmap encompasses selected topics that range from systematic design of material properties and switching kinetics to device level nanostructuring and integration within various photonic system architectures.

Praseodymium-Doped Ge20In5Sb10Se65 Films Based on Argon Plasma Cosputtering for Infrared-Luminescent Integrated Photonic Circuits

“…Chalcogenide glasses are particularly versatile materials because of their rich chemical, electronic, optical, and phase-change properties. These amorphous materials represent a real boon for the whole range of passive and active photonic applications within the traditional and emerging technology platforms . Chalcogenide glasses can be shaped in a variety of ways: in addition to the basic synthesis generally obtained by conventional melting–quenching, the use of mechanical milling is becoming more widespread, various fiber-drawing techniques have also been developed, and the manufacture of amorphous films is essentially carried out via physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods.…”

“…These amorphous materials represent a real boon for the whole range of passive and active photonic applications within the traditional and emerging technology platforms. 1 Chalcogenide glasses can be shaped in a variety of ways: in addition to the basic synthesis generally obtained by conventional melting−quenching, the use of mechanical milling is becoming more widespread, 2 various fiber-drawing techniques have also been developed, and the manufacture of amorphous films is essentially carried out via physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods. More recently, the additive manufacturing approach is also being explored, via the formulation of nanoparticle-based inks and inkjet printing for the deposition of thin films or 3D printing based on thin glass rods.…”

Prediction and Synthesis of a Selenide Perovskite for Optoelectronics

“…25 It is thus of great interest to develop the chalcogenide perovskites as a novel family of materials for optoelectronic applications. 26 The II−IV chalcogenide perovskites ABS 3 with A = Ca, Sr, or Ba and B = Zr or Hf are the most widely studied so far. 12,16−18,27−30 Further enrichment of the family could be achieved by exploring other groups of elements at both the cation and anion sites.…”

“…On the other hand, the short lifetime of halide perovskite LEDs is also a bottleneck for commercial applications . It is thus of great interest to develop the chalcogenide perovskites as a novel family of materials for optoelectronic applications …”

Color Tunable, Lithography-Free Refractory Metal–Oxide Metacoatings with a Graded Refractive Index Profile

“…Photonic metamaterials research has traditionally focused on noble plasmonic metals which afford no compositional tunability, relatively low-melting-points, high optical losses, and a lack of CMOS compatibility. To combat these losses and instabilities, researchers are actively exploring alternative material platforms to plasmonic metals such as chalcogenide semiconductors, transparent conductive oxides, nitrides, and 2D materials. − While refractory metal-nitrides have garnered much attention, a versatile and stoichiometrically tunable material platform formed by the refractory metal–oxides has been somewhat overlooked . The refectory metal–oxide material family offers a vast compositional space filled with binary and ternary dielectric alloys that offer a wide range of refractive indices and extinction coefficients that can be tuned by additional oxidation, ion-species incorporation, or by gas exposure.…”