Transfer printing of semiconductor nanowire lasers for nanophotonic device fabrication (Conference Presentation)

Semiconductor nanowire lasers have revolutionized the field of photonics offering highly localised coherent light sources at the nanoscale. However, due to the ultra-small dimensions of nanowire lasers, their manipulation and accurate integration at desired locations on targeted surfaces and optoelectronic platforms is a fundamental challenge. This poses critical limitations for the development of complex and tailored nanophotonic circuits using nanowire lasers as building blocks. In this talk, I will present a novel nanoscale transfer printing technique enabling the controllable integration of individually-selected semiconductor nanowires onto multiple receiving substrates (e.g. polymer, silica, metals) and pre-patterned systems. We will show that this technique provides very high positioning accuracy (<1μm) and full control of the orientation angle of the printed nanowires. Hence, this new hybrid nanoscale transfer printing technique offers great potential for the fabrication of bespoke nanophotonic systems with ultra-small nanowire lasers at their core. During the talk we will also present our recent results demonstrating the precise formation of user-defined complex micrometric spatial patterns, such as 1- and 2-Dimensional arrays, using Indium Phosphide (InP) nanowires lasers as building blocks. Furthermore, we will introduce our work on the coupling of InP nanowire lasers onto waveguide systems (built on both planar and mechanically flexible substrates) for on-chip guiding of the nanowire’s emitted light and plasmonic nanoantennas for controlled light directionality. Finally, during the talk we will also review our ongoing activities towards new hybrid nanowire laser systems enabled by our nanoscale transfer printing technique.