new MULti functional and multi color HYbrid Nano-emitters (MULHYN) – ACTIVE-NANOPHOT

The fast development of Nanophotonics requires development and integration of efficient optical nano sources that are able to address and activate specific parts of the photonic circuit. In this context, hybrid Plasmonic nanosources turn out to constitute a recent promising solution.
The MULHYN project aims at developing and integrating an original approach of new QD-containing light-emitting HYbrid metal/polymer nano-Systems (QD-HYPS) presenting inorganic active medium having an anisotropic spatial distribution. As a result, modes and optical properties of nanosources can be selectively activated with the polarization state of the incident light. Additionally, a multi exposure approach will permit the integration of many colors at specific localizations.
QD-HYPS fabrication is based on a near-field photopolymerization process triggered by plasmon-enhanced fields produced by the Metal Nanoparticule (MNP) itself. The result is a MNP exhibiting a polymeric coating reproducing the excited optical near-field intensity distribution. MUHLYN will benefit from the know-how issued from a successful ANR French project (HAPPLE) during which plasmon-based photopolymerization of a formulation containing organic dyes was validated, opening the route for the development of new integrated anisotropic optical nanosources.
MULHYN aims at taking a new step forwards by developing QD-containing hybrid nanosources with controllable emission (intensity, wavelength, emission diagram, color..) and to integrating them into functional photonic devices: electrically commendable hybrid Light Emitting Diodes (HLED) and photonic waveguides. The 3-year long project involves 5 interdependent workpackages (WP). WP1 is dedicated to development of QD-containing photopolymerizable photochemical formulation. WP2 deals with the fabrication and characterization of plasmonic nanostructures. QD-HYPS fabrication with increasing complexity will be performed within WP3. A step forward into the integration will be made through WP4 and WP5: we i) will use electrical plasmon excitation to obtain HLED to realize integrated electrically injected light emission (WP4) and ii) will integrate the QD-HYPS in the vicinity of simple integrated waveguides working in the visible or IR (WP5).
MUHLYN gathers 2 partners of complementary expertise: LNIO, Université de Technologie de Troyes (plasmonics, near-field optics, nanoscale light source/polymer interaction,..), and LUMINEOUS!, Nanyang Technolgical University (integrated optoelectronics, QD fabrications and grafting, SOI and LED technology,..).
The 1st year will be centered on the study of 1-or-2 color visible QD-HYPS based on the dipolar resonance of spherical and ellipsoidal MNP. Year 2 will work to the realization of 1-or-2-or-3 color QD-HYPS based on triangles and coupled systems. During Year 1 and 2, QDs HYPS will be integrated into dielectric guides working in the visible. Fist hybrid light-emitting diodes will be developed based on electrical excitation of the surface plasmons, permitted by the use of nanoprobes for integrated LED. 4-or-6 tip star will be tested for ultimate 2-or-3-colors QD-HYPS during Year 3. During the second half of the project, IR QD-HYPSs will be considered and integrated into simple Silicon-on-Insulator guides (WP5). During year 3, 3-color addressable RBG pixels will be investigated (WP3) and integration of nanoelectrodes by ebeam lithography will be carried out. As an ultimate approach of nanoelectrodes for WP4, metal nanowires will be used.