Nanomembrane Photonics and Electronics: From Fano Resonance Photonic Crystal Lasers on Si to Flexible Solar Cells and RF Electronics

Weidong Zhou
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Texas at Arlington

ECE Seminar at Duke University
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 3:00pm
Schiciano Auditorium Side B

Research in nanoscale crystalline materials, dominated by studies of nanocrystal quantum dots and nanowires/nanotubes, now incorporates a growing focus on sheets with nanoscale thicknesses, referred to as nanomembranes. In addition to their scientific significances and size dependent physical properties, NMs offer unprecedented opportunities for unique electronic and photonic devices for vertically stacked multi-functional photonic/electronic integrated super-chips, high performance flexible electronics, and adaptive flexible/conformal photonics. In this talk, I will review major progresses made over the last few years on this emerging and exciting field, with focuses on patent-pending nanomembrane lasers on Si for Si photonics, Fano resonance photonic crystal membrane reflectors and filters, flexible solar cells, and high speed flexible RF electronics, etc. The potentials and prospects of nanomembrane materials will also be discussed, with applications in the areas of 3D Si CMOS photonics, flexible, bio-inspired/integrated photonic/electronic systems, thin film solar cells, and multi-spectral multi-color infrared imaging and sensing systems, etc.

 

Professor Weidong Zhou obtained his BS and ME degrees from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, in 1993 and 1996, respectively. He obtained his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2001. From 2001-2004, he worked as a lead engineer at CIENA corporation, working on photonic devices for optical communication systems. He is currently an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Zhou has authored and co-authored ~200 journal publications and conference presentations, including 60+ journal publications, and 24 invited conference talks. Dr. Zhou is a senior member of IEEE, a member of SPIE, OSA, and APS. He also serves in various conference committees and editorial boards. Dr. Zhou’s major awards include Research Excellence Awards from UTA College of Engineering (2007, 2008), Rackham Predoctoral Fellow award (Univ. of Michigan, 2000-2001), IEEE/LEOS Graduate Student Fellowship award (IEEE/LEOS, 2000), Outstanding Graduates Award (Tsinghua Univ., Gold medal, 1993), and Outstanding Student of Beijing City (Beijing, 1992), etc. He received early promotion to tenured Associate Professor in 2009 due to his outstanding performances in research, teaching, and service.