Combining silicon photonics and electro-optic polymers has led to a substantial improvement of silicon-based modulators, especially in terms of energy efficiency, device footprint and modulation speed. By utilizing solution processes like inkjet-printing or micro dispensing, those organic materials are intrinsically scalable and can be moreover processed completely back-end-of-line. In the last years a plethora of high-speed modulators with drive voltages below 1 V have been realized with this hybrid approach. Nevertheless, the long-term stability of the organic devices could not yet fully be demonstrated. With new material concepts, encapsulation methods and process flows, SilOriX is now paving the way to long-term stable and high-efficient electro-optic SOH-modulators.
Adrian studied Physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. As a PhD student, he investigated the angle dependent absorption of organic tandem solar cells. From day one, Adrian was fascinated by the vast potential of organic semiconductors, especially from the fact, that they can be solution processed. As a Post-Doc, he investigated fully printable sensor systems based on organic electronics. During that time, he learned about Silicon-Organic-Hybrid (SOH) electro-optic modulators and their disruptive potential. Since spring 2021, Adrian is one of the Co-Founders and CEO of the start-up “SilOriX”, which aims to commercialize the SOH technology.