(S + C)-band optical amplification enabled by hybrid lanthanide-doped nanocomposites

Polymer waveguide devices have garnered significant attention in broadband communications due to their low propagation losses and ease of on-chip integration. Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals, recognized for their excellent optical properties, have been extensively explored as potential gain media for these devices. However, most research has focused on erbium- or thulium-doped systems, with amplifiers typically confined to the C-band or S-band. Expanding the near-infrared emission range of lanthanides to enable wideband optical amplification remains a key challenge. Herein, we present a nanoparticle hybridization strategy that achieves broadened near-infrared emission with a full width at half maximum of 126 nm. The absence of mutual interaction between the distinct emitting centers enables the fabricated optical amplifier to deliver independent yet complementary amplification across the entire S + C telecommunication bands with high gain. Our findings provide a robust platform for developing high-performance, broadband optical amplifiers, opening promising avenues toward advanced multiplexing and signal processing in next-generation communication systems and integrated photonic circuits.