DESIGN, CHARACTERIZATION, AND DYNAMICAL RESPONSE OF BESPOKE DETECTION MATERIALS FOR THE SHORT WAVELENGTH INFRARED SPECTRAL REGIME
Abstract
The development of quantum detectors that enable detection of short wavelength infrared wavelengths (SWIR: 0.9 to 2.5 micrometre) is severely hindered by the restricted range of active materials, which are largely based on inorganic semiconductors that require cryogenic operating conditions to operate beyond 2.0 micrometre. Replacement of these detectors by organic nanomaterials will open new avenues to implement detection flexibility and high resolution, as well as ambient temperature and low voltage operation into device design. This proposal develops novel “band gap by design” approaches that exploit metallic or quasimetallic single walled carbon nanotubes (m-SWNTs) and chiral, ionic semiconducting polymers that helically wrap the m-SWNT surface in a single chain fashion at constant morphology. These building blocks enable engineering of organic/nanomaterial hybrid compositions that possess unique and tunable SWIR detection wavelengths that cannot be realized or replicated with established inorganic semiconductors, addressing a key design challenge for detector elements relevant to night-vision and hostile fire detection. Key to the development of these novel detector materials are time-resolved transient optical excitation and detection capabilities suited specifically for the SWIR spectral region. Such instrumentation will interface with our existing Ti:sapphire pump laser, and impact critical goals of this research program through: (i) enabling the characterization of novel, long-wavelength detector materials that function in the long wavelength regime of the SWIR (2000-2400 nm), and (ii) providing probe and detection capabilities over the 320-450 nm and 1400-2000 nm wavelength domains, allowing interrogation of transitions in these spectral regions that are associated with band-gap opened m-SWNTs, as well as the electronic states produced following SWIR excitation, and their corresponding dynamics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010121
Entities
People
- Michael Therien
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Duke University
- United States Air Force