Tailored Organic Electro-optic Materials and Their Hybrid Systems for Device Applications

TLDR

Recent advances in tailored organic electro‑optic materials and their hybrid device systems—integrating components such as metal‑oxide barriers, solution‑processable waveguides, silicon nanoslots, and photonic CMOS chips—enable advanced photonic platforms through combined superior properties and simple processing. The review outlines future prospects for developing OEO materials and hybrid systems. It highlights demonstrations of low‑Vπ, low‑loss electro‑optic modulators in hybrid polymer‑sol‑gel waveguides, CMOS‑compatible polymer/silicon slotted waveguides, and polymer‑clad silicon nitride ring resonators.

Abstract

Recent development of tailored organic electric-optic (OEO) materials and their applications in hybrid device systems has been reviewed. Hybrid systems encompass the optical and/or electrical components that form intimate contact with OEO materials, such as metal oxide barrier layers, solution processable passive waveguides, silicon nanoslots, and photonic CMOS chips, etc. These systems offer unique advantages combining excellent properties and simple processing for advanced photonic device platforms. Examples include the demonstration of low-Vπ and low-loss EO modulators in hybrid polymer sol−gel waveguides, CMOS-compatible hybrid polymer/silicon slotted waveguides, and EO polymer-clad silicon nitride ring resonator modulators. This review also provides a future prospect for the development of OEO materials and their hybrid systems.