Optical Waveguides Containing Quantum DOT Guiding Layers and Methods of Manufacture

• US 20100330274A1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Sabyasachi Sen
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Sabyasachi Sen
• Inventors: Sen, Sabyasachi, Borrelli, Nicholas Francis
• Application Number:
  US12/880,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/163.2
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1345 using ion exchange ion exchange in glass C03C21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/169 Nanoparticles, e.g. doped nanoparticles acting as a gain material
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/17 amorphous, e.g. glass

Abstract

Planar waveguides having quantum dots and methods of manufacture of the planar waveguide are described.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a waveguide containing quantum dots, the method comprising:

providing a glass material;

selectively introducing a first type of ions to the glass material, wherein the first type of ions are exchanged with a second type of ions present in the glass to increase the index of refraction in selected regions of the glass material.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected region is the guiding region of the waveguide.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the introducing further comprises:

forming a mask over a surface of the glass material; and

thermally diffusing the first type of ions through an opening in the mask.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantum dots are lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first type of ions are potassium ions.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first type of ions are silver ions.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the glass material is a NaCa-boroaluminosilicate glass.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to the selective introducing, the quantum dots are nucleated and grown.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selective introduction further comprises immersing the glass material in a bath containing the first type of ions.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, after selectively introducing the first type of ions, selectively reintroducing the second type of ions.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantum dots are one or more selected from the group consisting of:

CuCl quantum dots, CuBr₂ quantum dots, Cu₂O quantum dots, AgCl quantum dots, CdS quantum dots, CdSe quantum dots, CdTe quantum dots, ZnO quantum dots, ZnS quantum dots, In₂O₃ quantum dots, PbSe quantum dots and PbTe quantum dots.

12-20. -20. (canceled)