IIT-D Develops Advanced Device To Boost Optical Communication

New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) on Monday said that it has developed an advanced photodetector that could significantly improve high-speed optical communication.

The new device operates without an external power source and offers ultra-fast response and high sensitivity.

Photodetectors play a crucial role in optical communication by converting light signals into electrical signals, enabling high-speed data transfer.

However, traditional photodetectors require external power sources and often suffer from signal loss.

The newly developed metal-semiconductor-insulator-metal (MSIM) photodetector overcomes these limitations which makes it more efficient and reliable.

Unlike conventional silicon (Si) and gallium arsenide (GaAs)-based photodetectors, which need high biasing voltage and have limited flexibility, the new MSIM photodetector operates using photo-induced displacement current. This enhances its response time and efficiency.

The research, led by Dr. Rakesh Suthar (postdoctoral researcher) and Suryakant Singh, under the guidance of Professor Supravat Karak from the organic and hybrid electronic device laboratory, Department of Energy Science and Engineering, has been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Functional Materials.

Some of this work was also conducted at Nagoya University, Japan, under the JSPS Invitational Fellow program with Professor Kunio Awaga’s group.

“Our goal was to develop a high-speed, self-powered photodetector that can advance next-generation optical communication systems while ensuring energy efficiency,” said Professor Karak.

The research team used polymer PM6, acceptor Y6, and a dielectric parylene layer to create a device capable of generating fast transient photocurrent signals. These signals have opposite polarity under light ON/OFF cycles, making them more easily distinguishable.