Mid‐Infrared Integrated Photonics: Material Platforms and Emerging Applications

Mid‐infrared (MIR) integrated photonics plays a pivotal role in a range of scientific and technological applications due to the unique absorption features of many molecules within this spectral range (2–20 µm). These wavelengths are particularly useful for sensitive chemical and biological sensing, as well as in environmental surveillance, medical diagnostics, and industrial process control. Advances in material platforms such as chalcogenide glasses, silicon, germanium, and graphene have significantly enhanced the performance and miniaturization of MIR integrated photonic devices. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of various material platforms utilized in MIR integrated photonics. Additionally, the review explores the broad range of potential applications of MIR integrated photonics, including but not limited to environmental sensing, molecular spectroscopy, free‐space communication, and thermal imaging. The capabilities of MIR integrated photonic devices for precise chemical detection, enhanced biomedical diagnostics, and industrial process supervising are highlighted, emphasizing the transformative impact of these technologies on fields such as environmental science, healthcare, and telecommunications.