Graphene: photonics and opto-electronics: UPM-NUS collaboration

Abstract

This project aims to explore the excellent optical properties of graphene, both from the standpoint of basic research as the study of nonlinear optical response, and from the applied perspective, with the development of optoelectronic and photonic devices. For this purpose, the MackGrafe research center at Mackenzie Presbyterian University (UPM) is being built, with facilities for growth, processing, and characterization of graphene-based devices. This center will be a "brother" center of Graphene Research Center (GC - http://www.graphenecenter.org/) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), working in a complementary manner as established by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU, attached) signed by the Presidents of these institutions in January 20th, 2012. The complementarity between the centers is due to the GC-NUS being a center focused on nano-electronics and MackGrafe a center focused on photonic and optoelectronic applications of graphene. This project consists of four lines of graphene research that are still in their infancy in the literature of this material: (1) non-linear optics and ultra-fast phenomena; (2) development of saturable absorbers for the generation of ultra-short pulses and lasers; (3) development of plasmonic devices and their coupling to photonic waveguides; (4) development of optical modulators integrated to optical fibers for optical communication. The success of this project depends fundamentally on the ample availability of graphene samples, on appropriate substrates, with low electric resistance and high optical transparency, and in sizes that are compatible with the photonic, optical, and opto-electronic devices. Therefore, the project involves the development of methodologies for the growth, characterization, synthesis, and transfer of graphene to different types of substrates, as well as, its chemical functionalization. The project has duration of 5 years and is divided into three phases: In Phase-I research will be developed with samples grown by GC-NUS, while the buildings are made of MackGrafe and team training in MackGrafe GC-NUS. In Phase-II, after completion of the facilities, the research will be performed on samples grown by MackGrafe in collaboration with researchers from the GC-NUS, and in Phase-III research will be develop collaboratively between the two. (AU)