Van der Waals photonic integrated circuit with coherent light generation

Abstract Two-dimensional semiconductors hold great potential as coherent light sources for photonic integrated circuits. However, the conventional integration of two-dimensional materials onto silicon photonics introduces significant structural and optoelectronic drawbacks, hindering the practical r...

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Main Authors: Tianhua Ren, Andrés Granados del Águila, Zhaolong Chen, Qianhui Xu, Xuehong Zhou, Rui Duan, Magdalena Grzeszczyk, Xiao Gong, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Kostya S. Novoselov, Maciej Koperski, Handong Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60778-2
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Summary:Abstract Two-dimensional semiconductors hold great potential as coherent light sources for photonic integrated circuits. However, the conventional integration of two-dimensional materials onto silicon photonics introduces significant structural and optoelectronic drawbacks, hindering the practical realization of coherent photonic circuits. Here, we introduce the concept of a van der Waals photonic integrated circuit, which is a complete on-chip optical system fabricated entirely from a van der Waals heterostructure. By combining multifunctional two-dimensional materials into a single heterostructure, we realize a fully functional photonic circuitry capable of benchtop coherent light generation, propagation, transmission, and modulation via a silicon back gate. The monolithic approach to heterostructure circuitry supports the effective integration of various photonic components based on two-dimensional materials with stable electro-optic interconnections. The coherence of light emission is systematically verified by second-order correlation experiments at room temperature, showing a clear power-dependent transition to a Poissonian regime. Our work establishes a pathway for coherent van der Waals photonics incorporated with standard silicon manufacturing processes.
ISSN:2041-1723