Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals for light emission and photonic integration

Abstract

Solution-processed colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have become an attractive material for the development of optoelectronic and photonic devices due to their inexpensive synthesis and excellent optical properties. Recently, CdSe NCs with different dimensions and structures have made significant progress in photonic integrated circuits, including light generation (laser), guiding (waveguide), modulation, and detection on a chip. This article summarizes the development of CdSe NCs-based lasers and discusses the challenges and opportunities for using CdSe NCs in photonic integrated circuits. First, an overview of the optical properties of CdSe based NCs with different dimensions is presented, with emphasis on the amplified stimulated emission and laser properties. Then, the nanophotonic devices and photonic integrated circuits based on CdSe NCs are introduced and discussed. Finally, the prospects for photonic integrated circuits are addressed.