Developing scalable infrared imagers with high sensitivity and millisecond response times

Abstract

The mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range is technologically important for its relevance in night vision, imaging, and sensing. However, the detection of long-wavelength photons in the MIR has been a challenging scientific and technological pursuit. Traditional MIR photodetectors and imagers are hurdled by either the need of cryogenic cooling, which adds device weight, cost, and failure rate, or the need of sophisticated device structures, which leads to high fabrication cost and large pixel size. This project aims to developMIR detectors and imagers by using two-dimensional (2D) perovskites as the critical building block. Leveraging the ultralow thermalconductivity and strong temperature-dependent excitonic resonances, we propose an all-optical photodetection scheme, which does notonly resolve the standing challenges associated with electrical readout in current MIR bolometers, but also features a simple, planar structure with millimeter to centimeter device areas. Through various light sensitivity-enhancement strategies, the proposed workwill demonstrate large-area detectors and imagers with a high sensitivity to MIR light down to the 1 pW·µm-2 level and a response time in the single-digit millisecond regime. The imagers will be furthermore interfaced with MIR metasurfaces to enable multiplexed spectral, temporal, and phase characterization of MIR pulses. Overall, the technological advancement from the proposed work will helpto build cost-effective, scalable long-wavelength photodetectors for more rapid and accurate identification of molecules and viruses, improved real-time tracking of targets, more sensitive monitoring of environmental conditions, as well as night vision and thermal metrology with higher image resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.Approved for public release

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Dec 15, 2023
Source ID
N000142412045

Entities

People

  • Peijun Guo

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • Yale University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics