High-Performance Photodetectors with Ultra-Low Dark Current and Broad Bandwidth for Optical Communication

The presented photodetectors (PDs) exhibit exceptional performance characteristics, demonstrating a remarkably broad frequency range of approximately 30 gigahertz. This is coupled with an ultra-low level of dark current, measured in the range of tens of picoamperes. Furthermore, these PDs achieve a high normalized photo-to-dark-current ratio of 1.63 × 10^6 W−1, indicating a strong signal-to-noise ratio. The linear dynamic range is equally impressive, spanning from 3 μW to 1.86 mW (and beyond) at a wavelength of 1.55 μm. These characteristics make these PDs highly suitable for high-speed optical communication applications, enabling efficient and reliable data transmission.