Graphene oxide two dimensional films for thermo-optic photonic integrated devices

TL;DR

This paper explores the thermo-optic properties of 2D graphene oxide films integrated onto microring resonators, revealing their potential for advanced polarization-sensitive and thermo-optic photonic devices.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of how reduction degree affects the thermo-optic properties of GO films, enabling new device functionalities.

Findings

Thermo-optic properties vary significantly with reduction degree.

GO films exhibit polarization anisotropy.

Enhanced optical bistability observed due to photo-thermal effects.

Abstract

Efficient heat management and control in optical devices, facilitated by advanced thermo-optic materials, is critical for many applications such as photovoltaics, thermal emitters, mode-locked lasers, and optical switches. Here, we investigate the thermo-optic properties of 2D graphene oxide (GO) films by precisely integrating them onto microring resonators (MRRs) with control over the film thicknesses and lengths. We characterize the refractive index, extinction coefficient, thermo-optic coefficient, and thermal conductivity of for the GO films with different layer numbers and degrees of reduction, including reversible reduction and enhanced optical bistability induced by photo-thermal effects. Experimental results show that the thermo-optic properties of 2D GO films vary widely with the degree of reduction, with significant polarization anisotropy, enabling efficient polarization sensitive devices. The versatile thermo-optic response of 2D GO substantially expands the scope of functionalities and devices that can be engineered, making it promising for a diverse range of thermo-optic applications.