Tin Nanoparticles–Enhanced Optical Transportation in Branched CdS Nanowire Waveguides

Abstract

High‐efficiency multichannel waveguiding components are desirable for integrated photonic systems to realize optical information processing and communication interconnection. Although different branched micro‐/nanostructures have been used as nanoscale multichannel waveguides, the propagation losses from their junctions are very high, which limits their applications in on‐chip photonic systems. Here, a new cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanowire branched heterostructure, with tin (Sn) nanoparticles implanted in its junctions, is achieved via a single‐step vapor deposition method. The self‐organized formation process of this structure is well investigated, through step‐by‐step observations during the growth. The implanted Sn nanoparticles in the junctions can act as strong light‐scattering centers, greatly improving the optical transportation from the backbone to the branches of the structure. Contrasting experiments demonstrate that the light‐guiding efficiency in the heterostructured nanowire branch waveguide is 20 times higher than that of the branched structures without Sn nanoparticles. Theoretical simulations further demonstrate the existence of Sn nanoparticles can greatly enhance the light scattering at the junctions and improve the light‐guiding performance. This kind of Sn‐CdS nanowire branched heterostructures may find promising applications for integrated photonic devices and systems.

Multipoint Nanolaser Array in an Individual Core–Shell CdS Branched Nanostructure

“…[ 31,32 ] Finally, the Sn nanoparticles remain in the junctions. [ 29 ] The diameter is much larger than that of guided wavelength of band‐edge emission, which is benefitted to the light reflection and scattering to confine the light between junctions. Between the CdS and Sn nanoparticles, there should exist one thin layer of SnS 2 as dielectric layer to block photogenerated carrier.…”

“…The Sn nanoparticles at junctions can act as strong‐scattering center and hot point to form positive‐feedback waveguide cavities for light confinement and oscillation at the trunk and branch segments, which has been confirmed in our previous work. [ 29,30 ] The results illustrate that this kind of special highly ordered CdS multibranch nanostructures can be used to generate multimode nanolaser arrays, which have bright promising applications in integrated photonic devices.…”

Nanowire Electronics: From Nanoscale to Macroscale

“…Additionally, most III–V nanowires have a tunable direct band gap, which can be controlled over a wide range through tailoring their stoichiometry, thus endowing rich optoelectronic properties. Similarly, group II–VI compound nanowires, such as ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, or their alloys, may also be synthesized with a similar approach and exhibit rich electronic and photonic functions. ,,− …”

Organic Branched Heterostructures with Optical Interconnects for Photonic Barcodes

“…To meet the challenges of size and energy efficiency, constructing free and reconfigurable optical interconnect structures presents alternative opportunities to process information and photon signals in conventional integrated circuits [5] . Heterostructure photonics, particularly branched heterostructures with peculiar multichannel and multidimensional waveguides, [6] demonstrate enticing prospects in optical modulation and processing for optical interconnect functions at the micro/nanoscale [7] . For example, a four‐terminal branched silver nanowire network has realized a cascaded plasmonic binary logic gate [8] …”