A PbS Quantum Dot Polymer Optical Waveguide Amplifier

A polymer optical waveguide amplifier based on PbS quantum dots (QDs) is demonstrated. It is fabricated by coating PbS quantum dots film on a SU-8 optical channel waveguide. The PbS QDs are synthesized by a combined colloidal and sol-gel method. The SU-8 polymer optical channel waveguide is fabricated by using a direct ultraviolet (UV) photolithography technology. With a Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM), the signal and pump waves can be combined and injected into the optical channel waveguide which is covered by QDs. The optical wave interacts with the PbS QDs through evanescent wave and is amplified. By using a 10mm length waveguide, a 3.0dB gain was observed at 1310nm wavelength with 980nm pump.