Abstract
The measurement of nanophotonic sensors currently requires the use of external measuring equipment for their read-out such as an optical spectrum analyzer, spectrophotometer, or detectors. This requirement of external laboratory-based measuring equipment creates a “chip-in-a-lab” dilemma and hinders the use of nanophotonic sensors in practical applications. Making nanophotonic sensors usable in everyday life requires miniaturization of not only the sensor chip itself but also the equipment used for its measurement. In this paper, we have removed the need of external measuring equipment by monolithically integrating 1-D grating structures with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit having an array of photodiodes. By doing so, we get a direct electrical read-out of the refractive index changes induced when applying different analytes to grating structures. The gratings are made of CMOS compatible silicon nitride. Employing a nanophotonic sensor made of CMOS compatible material allows fabrication of the integrated sensor chip in a commercial CMOS foundry, enabling mass production for commercialization with low cost. Our results present a significant step toward transforming present laboratory-based nanophotonic sensors into practical portable devices to enable applications away from the analytical laboratory. We anticipate the work will have a major impact on technology for personalized medicine, environmental, and industrial sensing.
Highlights
H EALTHCARE demands high performance sensor systems to ensure early diagnosis of diseases
The resonance wavelengths of the Si3N4 gratings integrated with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip were determined by measuring the optical reflection spectrum of the gratings via photospectrometry
We have demonstrated a miniaturized nanophotonic sensor system implemented monolithically by integration of nanophotonic structures with CMOS PDs
Summary
H EALTHCARE demands high performance sensor systems to ensure early diagnosis of diseases. Our approach towards developing a compact nanophotonic sensor system involves monolithic integration of resonant nanophotonic structures made of CMOS compatible material with a photodiode (PD) chip made using foundry CMOS technology. We have used a nanophotonic sensor made of silicon nitride (Si3N4) material for integration with the CMOS PD.
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