Theoretical analysis of injection driven thermal light emitters based on graphene encapsulated by hexagonal boron nitride

We develop the device model for the proposed injection (electrically) driven thermal light emitters (IDLEs) based on the vertical hexagonal boron nitride layer/graphene layer/ hexagonal boron nitride layer (hBNL/GL/hBNL) heterostructures and analyze their dynamic response. The operation of the IDLEs is associated with the light emission of the hot two-dimensional electron-hole plasma (2DEHP) generated in the GL by both the lateral injection from the side contacts and the vertical injection through the hBNL (combined injection) heating the 2DEHP. The temporal variation of the injection current results in the variation of the carrier effective temperature and their density in the GL leading to the modulation of the output light. We determine the mechanisms limiting the IDLE efficiency and the maximum light modulation frequency. A large difference between the carrier and lattice temperatures of the IDLEs with an effective heat removal enables a fairly large modulation depth at the modulation frequencies about dozen of GHz in contrast to the standard incandescent lamps. We compare the IDLEs with the combined injection under consideration and IDLEs using the carrier Joule heating by lateral current. The obtained results can be used for the IDLE optimization. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement