Bidirectional mid-infrared communications between two identical macroscopic graphene fibres

Among light-based free-space communication platforms, mid-infrared (MIR) light pertains to important applications in biomedical engineering, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing systems. Integrating MIR generation and reception in a network using two identical devices is vital for the miniaturization and simplification of MIR communications. However, conventional MIR emitters and receivers are not bidirectional due to intrinsic limitations of low performance and often require cryogenic cooling. Here, we demonstrate that macroscopic graphene fibres (GFs) assembled from weakly-coupled graphene layers allow room-temperature MIR detection and emission with megahertz modulation frequencies due to the persistence of photo-thermoelectric effect in millimeter-length and the ability to rapidly modulate gray-body radiation. Based on the dual-functionality of GFs, we set up a system that conducts bidirectional data transmission by switching modes between two identical GFs. The room-temperature operation of our systems and the potential to produce GFs on industrial textile-scale offer opportunities for simplified and wearable optical communications. Here, the authors design macroscopic multi-layered graphene fibres with light-emission and -detection dual functionality in the mid-infrared range, offering megahertz modulation frequencies and bidirectional data transmission operation.