Graphene and other two-dimensional materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, have rapidly established themselves as intriguing building blocks for optoelectronic applications, with a strong focus on various photodetection platforms The versatility of these material systems enables their application in areas including ultrafast and ultrasensitive detection of light in the ultraviolet, visible, infrared and terahertz frequency ranges These detectors can be integrated with other photonic components based on the same material, as well as with silicon photonic and electronic technologies Here, we provide an overview and evaluation of state-of-the-art photodetectors based on graphene, other two-dimensional materials, and hybrid systems based on the combination of different two-dimensional crystals or of two-dimensional crystals and other (nano)materials, such as plasmonic nanoparticles, semiconductors, quantum dots, or their integration with (silicon) waveguides

http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/nms/publications/pdf/nnano.2014.215.pdf

Photodetectors based on graphene, other two-dimensional materials and hybrid systems

We present the science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems, targeting an evolution in technology, that might lead to impacts and benefits reaching into most areas of society. This roadmap was developed within the framework of the European Graphene Flagship and outlines the main targets and research areas as best understood at the start of this ambitious project. We provide an overview of the key aspects of graphene and related materials (GRMs), ranging from fundamental research challenges to a variety of applications in a large number of sectors, highlighting the steps necessary to take GRMs from a state of raw potential to a point where they might revolutionize multiple industries. We also define an extensive list of acronyms in an effort to standardize the nomenclature in this emerging field.

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Science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems

It is shown that the ordinary semiclassical theory of the absorption of light by exciton states is not completely satisfactory (in contrast to the case of absorption due to interband transitions). A more complete theory is developed. It is shown that excitons are approximate bosons, and, in interaction with the electromagnetic field, the exciton field plays the role of the classical polarization field. The eigenstates of the system of crystal and radiation field are mixtures of photons and excitons. The ordinary one-quantum optical lifetime of an excitation is infinite. Absorption occurs only when "three-body" processes are introduced. The theory includes "local field" effects, leading to the Lorentz local field correction when it is applicable. A Smakula equation for the oscillator strength in terms of the integrated absorption constant is derived.

a Quantum-Mechanical Theory of the Contribution of Excitons to the Complex Dielectric Constant of Crystals.

A pair of stacked graphene layers separated by a tunnel barrier show sensitive photodetection capabilities.

http://vhosts.eecs.umich.edu/zhonglab/pub/nnano.2014.31.pdf

Graphene photodetectors with ultra-broadband and high responsivity at room temperature

2D material based photodetectors have attracted many research projects due to their unique structures and excellent electronic and optoelectronic properties. These 2D materials, including semimetallic graphene, semiconducting black phosphorus, transition metal dichalcogenides, insulating hexagonal boron nitride, and their various heterostructures, show a wide distribution in bandgap values. To date, hundreds of photodetectors based on 2D materials have been reported. Here, a review of photodetectors based on 2D materials covering the detection spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared is presented. First, a brief insight into the detection mechanisms of 2D material photodetectors as well as introducing the figure-of-merits which are key factors for a reasonable comparison between different photodetectors is provided. Then, the recent progress on 2D material based photodetectors is reviewed. Particularly, the excellent performances such as broadband spectrum detection, ultrahigh photoresponsivity and sensitivity, fast response speed and high bandwidth, polarization-sensitive detection are pointed out on the basis of the state-of-the-art 2D photodetectors. Initial applications based on 2D material photodetectors are mentioned. Finally, an outlook is delivered, the challenges and future directions are discussed, and general advice for designing and realizing novel high-performance photodetectors is given to provide a guideline for the future development of this fast-developing field.

Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities for 2D Material Based Photodetectors

Graphene holds great potential for use in photodetectors, owing to its ability to absorb light over a wide range of wavelengths. Here Zhang et al. report a large photoresponsivity of 8.6 AW-1 over a broad wavelength range in pure monolayer graphene.

/pdf/broadband-high-photoresponse-from-pure-monolayer-graphene-126bf6f1ab.pdf

Broadband high photoresponse from pure monolayer graphene photodetector

Low phase noise mode-locked fiber laser finds important applications in telecommunication, ultrafast sciences, material science, and biology, etc. In this paper, two types of carbon nano-materials, i.e. single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) and graphene oxide (GO), are investigated as efficient saturable absorbers (SAs) to achieve low phase noise mode-locked fiber lasers. Various properties of these wall-paper SAs, such as saturable intensity, optical absorption and degree of purity, are found to be key factors determining the performance of the ultrafast pulses. Reduced-noise femtosecond fiber lasers based on such carbon-based SAs are experimentally demonstrated, for which the phase noise has been reduced by more than 10 dB for SWNT SAs and 8 dB for GO SAs at 10 kHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation on the relationship between different carbon material based SAs and the phase noise of mode-locked lasers. This work paves the way to generate high-quality low phase noise ultrashort pulses in passively mode-locked fiber lasers.

/pdf/single-wall-carbon-nanotubes-and-graphene-oxide-based-4gd3zf9kbj.pdf

Single-wall carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide-based saturable absorbers for low phase noise mode-locked fiber lasers.

Graphene oxide (GO) has been used for optical intensity manipulation and short pulse shaping. Most interestingly, it can be used as a broadband light absorber. Such property has been systematically investigated in this paper, in a broad wavelength range from 1 to 2-μm. We fabricated one type of GO/polyvinyl alcohol (GO/PVA) film and use it as a saturable absorber (SA) in Er-, Yb-, and Tm-doped fiber ring lasers, respectively, to build pulsed fiber lasers. It is demonstrated that broad range of mode-locking in the 1-μm and 1.5-μm regions can be obtained. In addition, Q-switching around wavelength of 1870 nm can be obtained in a Tm-doped fiber ring lasers. To the best our knowledge, this is the broadest wavelength regime in which one type of GO SA film can be used to build all-fiber pulsed ring lasers.

Broadband Saturable Absorption of Graphene Oxide Thin Film and Its Application in Pulsed Fiber Lasers

Unlike common metals, graphene can support transverse electric (TE) surface modes when the imaginary part of its conductivity is negative. We have theoretically investigated and numerically simulated plasmonic properties of graphene TE surface plasmons (SPs) in the terahertz regime. The influence of the external magnetic field, gate voltage and temperature as the tuning schemes of the SPs have been investigated. The results show that graphene TE modes can be realized by tuning the magnetic fields or gate voltage. If the permeability of the dielectrics on both sides of the graphene layer differs enough, the graphene TE modes can still be achieved. The work presented here has the potential for application to graphene-based plasmonic devices in photonics and optoelectronics, such as sensors, polarizers and modulators.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0957-4484/24/34/345203/pdf

Analysis of graphene TE surface plasmons in the terahertz regime

Electrically pumped random lasers in the mid-infrared regime at λ∼ 10 μm have been demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. The laser is based on a quantum cascade (QC) gain media with designed filling fractions of scatterers.

Bo Meng

Papers

Broadband high photoresponse from pure monolayer graphene photodetector

Single-wall carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide-based saturable absorbers for low phase noise mode-locked fiber lasers.

Broadband Saturable Absorption of Graphene Oxide Thin Film and Its Application in Pulsed Fiber Lasers

Analysis of graphene TE surface plasmons in the terahertz regime

Electrically pumped mid-infrared random lasers