PROSPECTS FOR SILICON MONOLITHIC OPTOELECTRONICS WITH POLYMER LIGHT-EMITTING-DIODES

We have fabricated a monolithically integrated photodetector and ampli fier in silicon bipolar technology and organic polymer light emitting diodes (LED's) using both poly (p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and its so luble derivative poly (2-methoxy, 5-(2'-ethyl-hexoxy)-1,4-phenylene vi nylene) (MEH-PPV). Based on the individual capabilities of the photo-r eceiver and LED, we have begun to evaluate the feasibility of monolith ic integration of opto-electronics for silicon chip-to-chip communicat ion using both PPV-LED's and Si photoreceivers on Si chips. LED's made from PPV and its soluble derivative such as MEH-PPV are thought to be process-compatible with Si IC technology. However, as an additional r equirement, the polymer LED's must emit large enough power to be detec ted by the receiver with an acceptable bit-error-rate (BER).