Versatile Sputtering Tool for New Optical Materials for High-Temperature Plasmonics, Robust On-chip Nanophotonics, and Quantum Devices
Abstract
The exploration of new material platforms for nanophotonics and plasmonics promises to bringthe next generation of nanometer-scale, robust, low-cost and low power consumption on-chipdevices within reach. Plasmonics ~ or nano-optics using metals ~ that utilizes subwavelengthsurface plasmon (SP) excitations to control light at the nanoscale, paves the way to thedevelopment of ultra-compact photonic and optoelectronic devices for various applications incommunications, sensing, data storage, energy, and quantum information processing. However,the field requires a significant effort to develop material platforms that could enable practicalnanophotonic/plasmonic devices that are low-cost, durable, tunable and CMOS-compatible.Recently, materials engineering led to the development of new plasmonic materials such astransparent conductive oxides (TCOs) and transition metal nitrides (TMNs) which promise tobring durability, dynamic tunability and a high level of on-chip integration into currentnanophotonic devices. The next step in the field is to bring the performance of plasmonic materialson par with the application-specific requirements of practical devices.We will use the requested sputtering system to investigate, optimize and grow plasmonic materialsfor various device applications. In Thrust 1, we will develop TMNs with superior optical propertiesand temperature stability for applications in heat-assisted magnetic recording and energyharvesting. In Thrust 2, we will develop CMOS-compatible materials growth at low-temperatures(<400oC) and realize fully CMOS-compatible on-chip plasmonic devices. The developedprocesses and materials will serve as a foundation for emerging plasmonic devices for high-speedcomputation and telecommunication. In Thrust 3, we will explore quantum opto-plasmonicdevices employing optical-grade, monocrystalline epitaxial silver, which can be used for devicesin the fields of data encryption, quantum computers, and high-sensitivity quantum sensors.The requested equipment will allow us to grow a versatile set of materials in a contamination-freeand highly controllable ambience that is crucial for the proposed work. The requested system willalso enable multiple future projects related to biosensing, data storage, magneto-plasmonics, onchipcircuitry and nanophotonics that are being actively developed by many faculty membersresiding at Purdue~s Birck Nanotechnology Center (BNC) across both College of Science (Physics,Chemistry) and College of Engineering as well as with outside partners, including the NavalResearch Lab (NRL), Sandia National Lab, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL),building upon existing collaborations and establishing new ones. Moreover, the system will leadto the broadening of existing and establishing new collaborations with leading internationalresearch centers including active partnerships with Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurichand the National University of Singapore. The projects that will directly benefit from theacquisition of the proposed system are supported by the current DoD grants for a total amountexceeding $3.5 million. Materials developed with the requested equipment will be employed inongoing and new research projects across multi-disciplinary teams.The broader impacts of the requested capability lie in the development of new materials andapproaches for emerging on-chip optical technologies, as well as outreach. Using the approachesand devices realized with the new equipment, demos and hand-on experiments will be preparedduring outreach events at Purdue to spark the interest of students and the general public in opticaltechnologies and photonic innovations as well as in the fundamentals of the science of light.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812324
Entities
People
- Vladimir Shalaev
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Virginia