Mid-infrared Optoelectronics: From Materials Integration and Multiscale Fabrication Toward (i) Chip‐Scale Infrared Spectroscopy and (ii) Optical Network‐on‐Chip
Dr. Pao Tai Lin, post doctoral fellow, Materials Processing Center & Microphotonics Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014
10:30 a.m.
Goldwater Center (GWC) 487 [map]
Abstract
On-chip optical sensing can offer sub-ppb sensitivity and CMOS fabrication compatibility that enables system-level integration with present mobile microelectronics. Among numerous optical sensing mechanisms, the mid-Infrared (mid-IR) spectrum offers label-free biochemical identification because it overlaps with the characteristic absorption and the finger print region of a wide range of molecules. Although modern mid-IR spectroscopy has demonstrated quantitative and qualitative analysis of chemical compounds, proteins, and micro-organisms, the instruments used are bulky bench-top tools that do not yet perform on-site/in-situ detection.
Lin’s research is to develop chip-scale mid-IR sensor arrays as well as broadband photonic circuits via multidisciplinary effort on materials integration, planar photonics, and multi-scale fabrication. The objective is to create a fully integrated mid-IR system, which is a unique multi-functional platform incorporating light sources, waveguides, modulators, optofluidics, and light detectors, all onto a single chip. Lin will discuss his work on (i) rare-earth compounds and epitaxial ferroelectric thin films for broadband nonlinear light generation, (ii) ultra-low-loss nitride films for waveguiding and wavelength-division multiplexing, (iii) opto-nanofluidics and pedestal waveguides for optical sensing. He will also sketch future research plans in the areas of reconfigurable plasmonics and metamaterials, solution-processed optoelectronic materials, 2-D materials for light modulation and detection, and flexible optoelectronics for body-wearable biomedical devices, along with potential funding opportunities. His research is expected to lead the development of next generation point-of-care diagnosis and networked environmental toxin monitoring.
Biosketch
Pao Tai Lin is a postdoctoral fellow in the Materials Processing Center & Microphotonics Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University. His primary research area is in the development of mid-Infrared optoelectronic materials and devices for chip-scale label-free biochemical sensing and broadband energy-efficient network-on-chip. He conducts research on nanophotonics & metamaterials, multiscale 3-D fabrication technologies, and solution synthesis of multi-functional materials. Pao Tai Lin has published 21 peer-reviewed journal papers and another 42 conference proceedings and presentations.
