Design and fabrication of a hybrid plasmonic silicon-based ZnO nanowire laser with Ag nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Nanotechnology
• Materials Science and Engineering

Background:

• The demand for miniaturized electronic devices drives the need for advanced nanolasers.
• Nanolasers require miniaturization, high-speed transmission, low threshold operation, and minimal energy loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a room-temperature hybrid plasmonic nanolaser with enhanced performance.
• To investigate the role of silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanowires in nanolaser characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hybrid plasmonic nanolaser using a silicon substrate, metallic layer (silver nanoparticles), dielectric layer, and zinc oxide nanowires.
• Characterization of device performance, including threshold gain, fluorescence emission, light absorption, and luminescence intensity.

Main Results:

• Achieved a low threshold gain of 0.3355 µm⁻¹.
• Observed high fluorescence emission intensity (2476 a.u.) and luminescence intensity (1290.8 a.u.).
• Demonstrated a strong light absorption rate of 0.596.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid plasmonic nanolaser with silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanowires shows significant improvements in performance.
• This study provides a foundation for developing miniaturized nanolasers with low operational thresholds.