In the work, the researchers deposited a layer of graphene on top of a layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Although the two materials are structurally similar, they each interact with light differently. However, the researchers found these interactions could be complementary.
According to the team, the hybrid material blocks light when a particular voltage is applied to graphene, but allows a kind of emission and propagation – called hyperbolicity – when a different voltage is applied.
"This poses a new opportunity to send and receive light over a very confined space," said MIT associate professor of mechanical engineering Nicholas Fang, who added this could have potential application in optical interconnects.
Fang believes it should be possible to create optical waveguides of about 20nm in size, which could lead to chips that combine optical and electronic components in a single device.
