Thin-film lithium niobate: The "invisible cornerstone" of the quantum age

Thin-film lithium niobate (LNOI) is a material with broad application prospects in quantum communication, 5G optical modules, and photonic chips. With the advent of the quantum computing era, traditional bulk lithium niobate is bulky and expensive, making it difficult to achieve large-scale integration on a chip. The emergence of thin-film lithium niobate has changed this situation, as it not only retains the electro-optic advantages of the material but also endows it with the ability to be compatible with silicon photonics processes.