Integrated Photonics and Nanoelectronics - IPN

The work in IPN has a strong focus on semiconductor technology development and developing novel device architectures for electronics and photonic components. In addition, we enjoy exploring different characterization techniques to get a better understanding of the device physics. To this end, we collaborate with a number of excellent researchers internationally.

IPN2026

The IPN research group is led by Kirsten Moselund and was established in 2022 when she moved from IBM to academia. She currently holds a double affiliation with PSI as head of the Laboratory of NanoQuantum Technologies (LNQ) and as professor of electronics and microtechnology at EPFL, on the faculty of Engineering and Technology (STI). The activities are currently spread between the PSI in Villigen - Aargau, EPFL in Lausanne – Vaud and the campus of IBM Research Europe – Zurich in Rüschlikon Zürich. However, the main research activities are collected at PSI while PhD students are enrolled in the doctoral programs of EPFL.

Meet the group

Some examples of research projects which were carried out at IBM Research Europe Zurich are shown below. New projects are being shaped at PSI along the same themes.

2Dmaterials

Photonic Integration of Low-dimensional Materials

neuromorphic

Neuromorphic photonics

chmap2

Advanced 3D Nanophotonics

simu

Nanophotonics Device Simulation

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Nanostructured materials-based noise reduction and field enhancement of optomechanical nano resonators for quantum cavity optomechanics

 

neuromorphic

NEON : Neuromorphic photonics and III-V Electro-Optic modulators for random lasing Networks

The goals of the NEON project are a deeper scientific understanding of the physics of neuromorphic photonic networks, an improved architecture, and finally a path towards higher energy efficiency. The researchers hope to achieve and demonstrate a fully integrated neuromorphic photonic platform with a diameter of only around 100 micrometres.

SUGAR project overview

SUGAR : Sustainable Group-IV Active Photonics Research

The SUGAR project aims to develop a more sustainable photonics platform, focusing on group IV elements (Si, Ge, Sn) that are non-toxic and abundant. The proposal emphasizes sustainability throughout the entire device life-cycle, incorporating life-cycle analysis (LCA) from extraction to end-of-life.

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detector coupled

LIVE-EDC : Local III-V Epitaxy with Extreme Dielectric Confinement

Our facilities at PSI enable us to cover the entire process of obtaining a chip, from device design and simulation to fabrication in our Cleanroom, followed by optical and electrical characterization in our specialized laboratories.

IPN-setup2

Electromagnetic Simulation Workstation

Our simulation workstation is equipped with a high-performance PC and Lumerical software licenses, enabling advanced electromagnetic simulations. It supports the design and optimization of photonic and optoelectronic devices.

wet processing PICO

PICO Cleanroom

PICO (Park Innovaare Cleanroom for Optics and innovation) is located in Park Innovaare, on the West side of PSI. The cleanroom is operated by the Nanotechnology group  from the LNQ laboratory and belongs to the PSI Center for Photon Science.

IPN Setup First Light

Optical and Electrical Characterization Laboratory

Our Characterization Laboratory supports the testing of photonic and optoelectronic devices. It offers capabilities for measurements in the visible range, including I-V characterization, spectral response, and photoluminescence (PL) analysis.

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mne2026

MNE 2026

MNE is a major annual international conference, devoted to micro and nano engineering. MNE 2026 will be the 52nd conference, in Interlaken, Switzerland – an idyllic lakeside town nestled between the lakes of Thun and Brienz. A lot of representation from PSI and our group was there!

omer

Ömer joins the group!

We welcome Ömer Faruk Saglam to IPN, where he will be doing his internship project on developing an AlN photonic platform. Ömer completed his Bachelor in Turkey and later moved to Lausanne to pursue his Master in Electrical Engineering, at EPFL. Happy to have you in the group!

SUGAR

SUGAR in-person meeting

On the 6th of July, we had the 3rd in-person meeting of the SUGAR project, marking the completion of 2 years of project. We gathered in Lausanne for a morning of meetings to discuss about the status of the milestones and present the latest updates. We then enjoyed a nice walk along the Lac Léman and had dinner all together.

SiPhSS

Silicon Photonics Summer School

In the middle of the summer heat waves hitting all Europe, Cristina and Mariona switched work locations to València to attend the ePIX Silicon Photonics Summer School. It was a full week of very interesting talks, combined with some social activities and enjoying the Mediterranean seaside!

IPN group

Spring dinner and farewells

On the 26th of May we gathered in Baden to have a nice outdoors group dinner. The excuse? To reward our hard work after a very intense lab cleaning day, and to say farewell to Rutuja, who has been working in our group for the last 2 years. You will me missed!

leo_mairot

Léo joins the group!

We welcome Léo Mairot to IPN, where he will be doing his 4-month internship as part of his Master's curriculum in Material Sciences at EPFL. He also holds a minor in Photonics, so he will get some experimental experience on the two fields by working on integrated Si-Ge heterostructres, as part of the SUGAR. Hope you enjoy your time in PSI!

 

CARLA symposium

360 CARLA Symposium

During May 7-8, our PhD students attended the 360 CARLA Symposium, which took place in the medieval town of Burgdorf. The event is designed to approach industrial job opportunitites in the field of photonics to early-career researchers. This edition had a particular focus on the applications of photonic technologies for Energy, Environment and Sustainability.

reham

Reham joins LNQ!

Reham Elshurafa just joined us for her PhD! She studied Physics and specialised on Material Science and Nanotechn, in the universities of Ankara and Bilkent. She now starts her PhD (Basel University) in Nanostructures for Quanutm Optomechanics. Reham will be supervised by Prof. Helmut Schift and Simone Iadanza, becoming the link between ANAM and IPN :D Welcome to the groups!

optical_lab

Lab cleaning day

Last April 20 we joined efforts to do a general cleaning of our optical characterization lab, to make room for our newest optical table. After a morning of unboxing, reorganizing, cleaning and doing countless trips to the karton bin, we realized the forklift was not available to mount the optical table :'( The operation was successfully completed the day after, and we now have a shiny lab!

OWTNM

International Workshop on Numerical Modelling

Cristina, Enrico and Mariona participated in the XXXII International Workshop on Optical Wave Theory and Numerical Modelling (OWTNM), which took place in Lausanne from April 8th to 10th. They presented their work on photonic simulations.

HAADF-STEM images of 5, 10, and 15 nm-thick Ge QWs (left to right) embedded between Si0.2Ge0.8 barriers

Master’s Thesis / Internship Position

Ge/SiGe 2DHG Transistors for Cryogenic Electronics.

newcomers

Víctor joins the group!

Víctor is back at LNQ! After his internship last summer in the Nanotechnology Group, he returned to UAB (Barcelona) for his last year of Bachelor's degree in Nanotechnology. He will now complete his Bachelor's thesis here at PSI, in a joint collaboration between our group and XRnanotech. Welcome back :)