Graphene-quantum dot hybrid optoelectronics at visible wavelengths

Abstract

With exceptional electronic and gate-tunable optical properties, graphene provides new possibilities for active nanophotonic devices. Requirements of very large carrier density modulation, however, limit the operation of graphene based optical devices in the visible spectrum. Here, we report a unique approach that avoids these limitations and implements graphene into optoelectronic devices working in the visible spectrum. The approach relies on controlling nonradiative energy transfer between colloidal quantum-dots and graphene through gate-voltage induced tuning of the charge density of graphene. We demonstrate a new class of large area optoelectronic devices including fluorescent display and voltage-controlled color-variable devices working in the visible spectrum. We anticipate that the presented technique could provide new practical routes for active control of light-matter interaction at the nanometer scale, which could find new implications ranging from display technologies to quantum optics.