Microcavity-integrated graphene photodetector

Nano Lett. 2012 Jun 13;12(6):2773-7. doi: 10.1021/nl204512x. Epub 2012 May 10.

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in using graphene (1, 2) for optoelectronic applications. (3-19) However, because graphene is an inherently weak optical absorber (only ≈2.3% absorption), novel concepts need to be developed to increase the absorption and take full advantage of its unique optical properties. We demonstrate that by monolithically integrating graphene with a Fabry-Pérot microcavity, the optical absorption is 26-fold enhanced, reaching values >60%. We present a graphene-based microcavity photodetector with responsivity of 21 mA/W. Our approach can be applied to a variety of other graphene devices, such as electro-absorption modulators, variable optical attenuators, or light emitters, and provides a new route to graphene photonics with the potential for applications in communications, security, sensing and spectroscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Light
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / radiation effects*
  • Photometry / instrumentation*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Graphite