Hybrid Nanowire Photodetector Integrated in a Silicon Photonic Crystal

The combination of hybrid nanowire photodetector on silicon photonic crystals has the potential to be both highly sensitive and ultrafast. A p-i-n nanowire was integrated into a silicon photonic crystal via nanomanipulation technique and has been successfully implemented as a photodiode on silicon chip with Al:ZnO transparent electrode. The hybrid nanowire photodiode can detect laser light through the Al:ZnO coated input waveguide and is capable of measuring the photonic crystal enhanced photocurrent. In addition, a measurement of the enhanced photocurrent in the light cone by the nanoantenna was also conducted. Our results reveal the prospects for future photonic on-chip processors utilizing CMOS-compatible hybrid nanowire photodetector in a photonic crystal.