  The monolithic integration of electronics and photonics has attracted
enormous attention due to its potential applications. However, the realization
of such hybrid circuits has remained a challenge because it requires optical
communication at nanometer scales. A major challenge to this integration is the
identification of a suitable material. After discussing the material aspect of
the challenge, we identified atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides
(TMDs) as a perfect material platform to implement the circuit. The selection
of TMDs is based on their very distinct property: monolayer TMDs are able to
emit and absorb light at the same wavelength determined by direct exciton
transitions. To prove the concept, we fabricated simple devices consisting of
silver nanowires as plasmonic waveguides and monolayer TMDs as active
optoelectronic media. Using photoexcitation, direct optical imaging and
spectral analysis, we demonstrated generation and detection of surface plasmon
polaritons by monolayer TMDs. Regarded as novel materials for electronics and
photonics, transition metal dichalcogenides are expected to find new
applications in next generation integrated circuits.
