Polymer/QDs Nanocomposites for Waveguiding Applications

In this paper we review our recent progress in a still young type of active waveguides based on hybrid organic (polymer)—inorganic (semiconductor quantum dots) materials. They can be useful for the implementation of new photonic devices, because combining the properties of the semiconductor nanostructures (quantum size carrier confinement and temperature independent emission) with the technological capabilities of polymers. These optical waveguides can be easily fabricated by spin-coating and UV photolithography on many substrates (SiO2/Si, in the present work). We demonstrate that it is possible to control the active wavelength in a broad range (400–1100 nm), just by changing the base quantum dot material (CdS, CdSe, CdTe and PbS, but other are possible), without the necessity of changing fabrication conditions. Particularly, we have determined the optimum conditions to produce multi-color photoluminescence waveguiding by embedding CdS, CdSe and CdTe quantum dots into Poly(methyl methacrylate). Finally, we show new results regarding the incorporation of CdSe nanocrystals into a SU-8 resist, in order to extrapolate the study to a photolithographic and technologically more important polymer. In this case ridge waveguides are able to confine in 2D the light emitted by the quantum dots.