BaTiO₃ on Silicon and SOI Wafers for Silicon Photonics
La Luce Cristallina manufactures epitaxial barium titanate (BaTiO₃/BTO) wafer platforms integrated with silicon (Si) and silicon-on-insulator (SOI), bringing the high-performance electro-optic properties of crystalline BaTiO₃ to semiconductor-compatible substrates.
Designed for advanced silicon photonics applications, our BaTiO₃-on-silicon and BaTiO₃-on-SOI platforms provide a foundation for electro-optic modulators, optical interconnects, sensing, and other photonic integrated devices.
Why BaTiO₃ for Silicon Photonics?
BaTiO₃ combines strong electro-optic functionality with the advantages of integration on silicon-based platforms. La Luce Cristallina’s epitaxial approach enables the growth of optical-grade BaTiO₃ at material thicknesses suitable for photonic devices, supporting the development of compact, high-performance photonic integrated circuits.
Our platform is designed to help device developers overcome the performance limitations of conventional silicon while integrating advanced electro-optic functionality into semiconductor-compatible substrates.
Available BaTiO₃ Wafer Platforms
200 mm BaTiO₃ Wafers
- Epitaxial a-oriented BaTiO₃ on Si or SOI
- 300 or 500 nm thickness
50 mm BaTiO₃ Wafers
- Epitaxial a-oriented BaTiO₃ on Si or SOI
- 300 or 500 nm thickness
- Single- or double-side polished
c-Oriented BaTiO₃ Wafers
- Epitaxial c-oriented BaTiO₃ on Si or SOI
- 150 or 300 nm thickness
- 50 mm diameter
- Single- or double-side polished
Applications
La Luce Cristallina’s BaTiO₃-on-silicon and BaTiO₃-on-SOI platforms support research and device development across applications including:
- Electro-optic modulators
- Optical interconnects
- Silicon photonics
- Telecommunications
- Field and biosensing
- Quantum information
- Neuromorphic computing
- High-performance computing
Technical Resources
Explore La Luce Cristallina’s research, technical publications, and news related to epitaxial BaTiO₃, silicon photonics, and integrated electro-optic materials.
Why Barium Titanate Could Be the Penelope of Integrated Photonics
Published in The Fast Mode, this article compares barium titanate’s Penelope to lithium niobate’s Helen of Troy, outlining how barium titanate is well-positioned to support the shift to co-packaged optics due to its reliability and exceptional Pockels (electro-optic) effect. With AI infrastructure demands driving companies toward co-packaged optics, barium titanate’s manufacturing scalability and reduced contamination risk may position it as a critical materials platform. If lithium niobate helped introduce electro-optics into modern photonics, barium titanate may help companies scale it for the next generation of optical network infrastructure.
New material on the block: Barium titanate for silicon photonics
Published in Laser Focus World, this article explores BaTiO₃ as an emerging material platform for silicon photonics, highlighting its strong electro-optic performance, silicon-foundry compatibility, and potential to enable smaller, lower-power photonic devices. It also examines applications across AI data centers, optical networking, sensing, defense, and aerospace, along with the manufacturing advances and remaining scalability challenges shaping broader adoption.
Barium Titanate Stakes Its Claim as a Material Platform for Next-Gen Optical Engines
Published in Photonics Spectra, this article examines BaTiO₃ (BTO) as an emerging material platform for next-generation optical engines as AI drives the transition toward co-packaged, in-package, and chiplet-based photonics. It highlights BTO’s strong electro-optic performance, low-power operation, compact device footprint, and compatibility with silicon manufacturing processes, along with its potential to support high-density optical interconnects and other advanced photonic applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BaTiO₃ on silicon?
BaTiO₃ on silicon integrates crystalline barium titanate (BaTiO₃/BTO), a material with strong electro-optic properties, with silicon substrates. This combination enables advanced optical functionality on semiconductor-compatible platforms for photonic devices.
Can BaTiO₃ be integrated with SOI?
Yes. La Luce Cristallina produces epitaxial BaTiO₃ on silicon-on-insulator (SOI), enabling the electro-optic properties of crystalline BaTiO₃ to be integrated with SOI platforms for silicon photonics applications.
What BaTiO₃ wafer sizes and thicknesses are available?
La Luce Cristallina offers BaTiO₃ wafer platforms in multiple configurations, including 50 mm and 200 mm wafers. Available BaTiO₃ thicknesses include 150, 300 and 500 nm, depending on wafer size, crystal orientation, and substrate configuration.
What is BaTiO₃ used for in silicon photonics?
BaTiO₃ provides strong electro-optic functionality for silicon photonics, supporting applications such as electro-optic modulators, optical interconnects, telecommunications, sensing, quantum information, and neuromorphic computing.