2DFIRE

2DFIRE: photonic integration platform to enable high-speed, energy-efficient optical communication.

The 2DFIRE project aims to create a breakthrough photonic integration platform by combining barium titanate (BTO) coupled-modulated ring modulators (CRMs) with two-dimensional materials (2DMs). This unique combination addresses the urgent need for scalable, energy-efficient, and high-performance electro-optic modulation devices to support future communication systems.

The project will establish reliable methods for the deposition and transfer of 2DMs such as MoS2 and graphene, together with advanced transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) like hydrogen-doped In2O₃, ensuring stable properties and seamless integration with BTO devices. These materials will be incorporated into the BTO CRM platform to enable unprecedented functionalities, including high-speed data transmission at 400 Gbps/λ, efficient thermal phase shifting with low optical losses, and novel electrode concepts that reduce driving voltage and energy consumption. At the same time, upscaling strategies will be established to validate manufacturability at wafer level, ensuring the industrial relevance and long-term scalability of the approach.

2DFIRE brings together leading European partners across the value chain, combining expertise in materials synthesis, nanofabrication, device engineering, and innovation exploitation. By delivering a validated material and device platform, 2DFIRE will reinforce Europe’s leadership in integrated photonics and drive the development of faster and greener photonic technologies. The project outcomes will unlock new capabilities for data centers, HPC, and AI/ML computing, while accelerating the transition to next-generation telecommunications networks.