Schematic diagram of silicon-based quantum dots photonic crystal lasers chip

As the only research laboratory specialized in semiconductor lasers in Southern China, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Laser dedicates to further the fundamental understanding of laser physics, promote the innovation that has industry applications, cultivate the next generation’s experts in laser physics and engineering.  We target at the key scientific and engineering problems in optoelectronic materials and laser devices in industry, our research focuses on: growth of optoelectronics materials, fabrication of ultra-small devices and theoretical analysis of optoelectronic devices.

This key laboratory is led by Professor Zhaoyu Zhang including 1 academician and 9 renowned professors. Prof. Zhaoyu Zhang (https://sse.cuhk.edu.cn/en/teacher/190) received his B.S. and M.S. degree in Applied Mechanics from University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, in 1998 and 2001 respectively. He received Ph.D. degree from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena USA in 2007 in Electrical Engineering. From 2008 to 2011, he worked in University of California, Berkeley as a postdoctoral fellow in College of Chemistry, with a joint appointment with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In 2015, he and his team moved to Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. In 2016, he was approved to set up Key Labortary of Semicoductor laser, Shenzhen and be the director. His main achievements including the first demonstration of red-emission photonic crystal lasers, wavelength-scale micro-lasers with physical size smaller than 1 micron, microfluidic microlasers based on dye materials, as well as the first demonstration of photonic crystal lasers directly grown on silicon substrates. He has published more than 20 referred papers on renowned journals including Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Physics Review Letters, Optica, Photonics research, Optics Letters, Applied Physics Letters, etc.

The Key Lab currently has lab space of about 980 m² which includes Micro and Nano-fabrication shared lab of about 500 m², Computer simulation lab of about 120 m², Organic opto-electronics lab of 180 m2, Materials synthesis lab of 180 m², Spintronics simulation lab of 120 m², and Nano opto-electronics lab of 100 m². Especially, the Micro and Nano-fabrication lab targets at internationally shared micro- and nano- fabrication grand facilities for photonics chips design and making with outstanding research equipment and skillful top tier scientist and engineer team to serve the need from international university town and local tech companies as well as international users through our professional management.

The four research directions include: materials design and synthesis, devices design and fabrication, characteristics for materials and devices, product development research.

The Key Lab currently has equipment for organic and inorganic synthesis, for material growth and material characteristics, for the complete process of device design, device fabrication and device testing (part of the process is collaborated with SUSTECH). The Key Lab has the optical measurement capability of high and low (liquid helium) temperature, continuous and pulse (femtosecond for optical and nanosecond for electrical) and the spectrum is able to cover UV to 5 micron mid IR. The total value of equipment so far is about 20 million RMB.