High detection efficiency silicon single-photon detector with a monolithic integrated circuit of active quenching and active reset.

Silicon single-photon detectors (SPDs) are key devices for detecting single photons in the visible wavelength range. Photon detection efficiency (PDE) is one of the most important parameters of silicon SPDs, and increasing PDE is highly required for many applications. Here, we present a practical approach to increase the PDE of silicon SPDs with a monolithic integrated circuit of active quenching and active reset (AQAR).

Gold@silver bimetal nanoparticles/pyramidal silicon 3D substrate with high reproducibility for high-performance SERS.

A novel and efficient surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate has been presented based on Gold@silver/pyramidal silicon 3D substrate (Au@Ag/3D-Si). By combining the SERS activity of Ag, the chemical stability of Au and the large field enhancement of 3D-Si, the Au@Ag/3D-Si substrate possesses perfect sensitivity, homogeneity, reproducibility and chemical stability. Using R6G as probe molecule, the SERS results imply that the Au@Ag/3D-Si substrate is superior to the 3D-Si, Ag/3D-Si and Au/3D-Si substrate.