Graphene microheater for phase change chalcogenides based integrated photonic components [Invited]

Optical Materials Express, vol. 12, pp. 1991

Abstract

In order to effectively control the state of an active integrated photonic component based on chalcogenide phase change materials, an efficient microheater operating at low voltage is required. Here, we report on the design of a graphene based microheater. The proposed system contains two separate graphene layers between which the phase change material cell of Ge2Sb2Te5 is placed. Three distinct switching possibilities are explored, using only the bottom layer, only the top layer or both graphene layers. A detailed investigation of the heater parameters is performed to optimise switching performance. A self-consistent multiphysics simulation of the crystallization process in the phase change material cell is conducted demonstrating the switching capabilities of the proposed design.

Authors 4

1. Joaquín Faneca

   Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas · Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona · University of Southampton

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto de Microelectronica de Barcelona

   University of Southampton

   Instituto de Microelectronica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

   Optoelectonics Research Center, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

2. Sebastian Meyer Aachen I. Physikalisches Institut

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University

   I. Physikalisches Institut (1A), RWTH Aachen University, Sommerfeldstrasse 14, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Frédéric Y. Gardes

   University of Southampton

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Southampton

   Optoelectonics Research Center, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

4. Dmitry N. Chigrin corresponding Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials I. Physikalisches Institut

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   RWTH Aachen University

   DWI Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   I. Physikalisches Institut (1A), RWTH Aachen University, Sommerfeldstrasse 14, 52074 Aachen, Germany