ABSTRACT

The COVID pandemic of 2020 demonstrated the worldwide need for low-cost, highly sensitive, rapid
diagnostic testing of diverse pathogens. While silicon photonics enables such a highly multiplexed labelfree
sensing capability with extremely high sensitivities, a handheld low-cost silicon nanophotonic sensor
is still missing. Fabrication imperfections have made photonic sensor implementations difficult with a fixed
wavelength laser and a single detector. Photonic measurement variabilities also arise from binding
uncertainties in nanophotonic pillars and trenches. The fundamental work in this proposal employs a novel
on-chip dual polarization interferometry technique that will reduce photonic measurement variability, and
novel circuit implementations to enable electrically driven and electrically readout low-cost on-chip
nanophotonic sensors. The working principle of the device, and circuit implementations of the device to
overcome fabrication and measurement limitations have not been previously demonstrated. The state-ofthe-
art photonic device fabrication capabilities at a 300 mm CMOS foundry, namely AIM Photonics, with
monolithically integrated passive and active electrically biased photonic components will be employed in
this project. The project will involve students in optics, engineering, materials science, and physics from
the University of Dayton and the University of North Texas who will not only learn about cutting-edge
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) research but also in computer aided design
layouts for foundry fabrication of next-generation co-integrated electronic-photonic devices. The project
will also work with students and faculty in microbiology from the Dayton Early College Academy, and
other middle and high school students in the greater Dayton, OH and Denton, TX areas. The handheld
sensors will find applications in various domains of biological sensing for cancer diagnostics, infectious
disease and opioid diagnostics, and environmental pollution monitoring as also in new drug discovery.
The technical goals of this project will (a) demonstrate the principle of slow light enhanced interferometry
on-chip; (b) investigate novel thin-film electro-optic phase shifters on silicon chip; (c) demonstrate on-chip
real time dual polarization interferometry; and (d) demonstrate an unprecedented fabrication tolerant silicon
nanophotonic sensor operating in a compact package with electrical drive and electrical readout. The
program will expose students to interdisciplinary research encompassing lithography, photonics, electrical
engineering, physics, biochemistry, and materials science. The project will culminate with the development
of a USB-powered handheld optical biosensor kit. Project members will engage in science and technology
outreach targeting middle and high school students in greater Dayton, OH and greater Denton, TX counties.
Project activities will outreach to broaden the participation of minority students in STEM education and
training. Students will be exposed to an innovation ecosystem with hands-on science and technology
experience. Finally, the project will help to address the significant current need to build US-based
manpower in the design and manufacturing of semiconductor chips.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.