Design and Fabrication of Uncooled Thermal Detectors An Approach to Use Nanomachining Technology at an HBCU By
Abstract
Delaware State University in collaboration with University of Delaware will be working on research projects that will involve the design, fabrication and characterization of uncooled infrared detectors which are utilized in nightvision systems and scientific instruments such as spectrometers and radiometers. They provide good performance that has enabled systems to be developed which have reduced size, weight, and power consumption. Yet uncooled infrared detectors still have not reached their fundamental limits of performance. The evolution of lithography through direct write ebeam lithography, nanoimprinting, and deep ultraviolet lithography has enabled sub-100nm features to be patterned. The objective of this research is to develop state of the art pyroelectric detectors that utilize a nanometer size mesh or truss to support the micromachined detector thereby providing a thermal conductance that is limited by the radiative exchange with the environment. This work will help extend micromachining to nanometer sized features and move uncooled infrared detectors from being a MEMS technology to a NEMS technology. An investigation into the fundamental noise mechanisms that limit the performance of pyroelectric detectors and thermopiles will be conducted. It is the goal of this research to achieve the limit where the noise of the detector is limited by the radiative exchange with the environment. The research will contribute towards a better understanding of the structural and thermal properties of materials fabricated on a nanometer scale.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512812
Entities
People
- Mukti Rana
Organizations
- Delaware State University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy