(S <b>+</b> C)-band optical amplification enabled by hybrid lanthanide-doped nanocomposites

H Hong Liao G Guanlin Li (Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China) D Dongxin Guo (Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,) Q Qin Xiao G Geng Chen Y Yumei Liu (School of Life Sciences, Anhui University) B Bao Fan (Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,) G Guanshi Qin (Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,) F Fei Wang K Kezhi Zheng (Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,)

Abstract

Polymer waveguide devices have garnered significant attention in broadband communications due to their low propagation losses and ease of on-chip integration. Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals, recognized for their excellent optical properties, have been extensively explored as potential gain media for these devices. However, most research has focused on erbium- or thulium-doped systems, with amplifiers typically confined to the C-band or S-band. Expanding the near-infrared emission range of lanthanides to enable wideband optical amplification remains a key challenge. Herein, we present a nanoparticle hybridization strategy that achieves broadened near-infrared emission with a full width at half maximum of 126 nm. The absence of mutual interaction between the distinct emitting centers enables the fabricated optical amplifier to deliver independent yet complementary amplification across the entire S + C telecommunication bands with high gain. Our findings provide a robust platform for developing high-performance, broadband optical amplifiers, opening promising avenues toward advanced multiplexing and signal processing in next-generation communication systems and integrated photonic circuits.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 24
Published December 15, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

H

Hong Liao

G

Guanlin Li

Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China

D

Dongxin Guo

Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,

Q

Qin Xiao

G

Geng Chen

Y

Yumei Liu

School of Life Sciences, Anhui University

B

Bao Fan

Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,

G

Guanshi Qin

Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,

F

Fei Wang

K

Kezhi Zheng

Key Laboratory of Atomic and Subatomic Structure and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Material, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,