The study investigates the potential of aerosol-synthesized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films for silicon nitride photonic circuits as a basis for developing integrated optics devices. Silicon nitride is a highly versatile material ideal for integrated photonics due to its wide bandgap, excellent mechanical properties, and compatibility with the CMOS fabrication process. It is characterized by low infrared light propagation losses, facilitating the fabrication of passive elements like splitters, multiplexers, arrayed waveguide gratings, and filters. The study focuses on the integration of low-dimensional materials with optical waveguides, presenting promising opportunities for enhancing light manipulation in passive photonic circuits. By measuring the optical response of SWCNT-covered waveguides, the team retrieved the main SWCNT film parameters, such as absorption, nonlinear refractive, and thermo-optic coefficients1. They demonstrated the enhancement of all-optical wavelength conversion and the photoresponse with a 1.2 GHz bandwidth. The research findings suggest that the integration of SWCNT films with silicon nitride photonic circuits could significantly expand the functionality of the platform. This integration could lead to the development of advanced integrated optics devices, marking a significant milestone in the field of photonics.
