DEDUCE: Directed Energy Detection for Unspecified Characteristic Energies using Wearable Electronic Sensors enabled by Printable Semiconductors
Abstract
Approved for public release. Directed energy is a significant threat facing warfighters today and may become more significant in the near future. It is imperative that systems are developed to protect individuals from incident electromagnetic energy. The first step towards protection is detection, as an alert allows for an immediate and directed response. To be effective, this detection system must be able to deduce the wavelength, direction, and power of the incident electromagnetic threat. Additionally, the system must be both light-weight and low-power to allow for wearability without further burden. To this end, the proposed work includes the investigation into novel printable semiconductors which would allow for large-area, flexible directed energy sensors. The approach will be to first develop inks from constituent nanomaterials with appropriate optical band gaps to allow for specific detection of certain wavelengths. The nanomaterials that are to be investigated include SiC nanowires, poly(3-hexylthiophene)-carbon nanotube (CNT) nanostructures, neat-CNTs, and graphene. These materials will allow for sensitivity within the UV, visible, and infrared spectrum, respectively. Additionally, the graphene can be utilized to sense THz and µWave irradiation. The optical bandgaps of the material thin films will be investigated using UV-visible-IR absorption measurements with an integration sphere. The electronic band structure of the material thin films will be investigated through the use of Schottky diode structures fabricated using solution processing techniques. Next, the protocols for printing the materials using an aerosol jet technique will be investigated and optimized. The rheometric properties of the inks will be optimized using co-solvents and organic additives to ensure printability and shelf-stability of the constituent nanomaterial inks. The aerosol jet print parameters will be optimized using an in-house developed in-flight droplet analysis technique to ensure proper droplet parameters prior to substrate impingement. Ultimately, the process optimization will lead to uniform thin-films that can be printed onto a variety of substrates with fine spatial resolution and control. The outcome of the proposed work will be new nanomaterial-based semiconducting inks that can be processed using optimized additive manufacturing techniques to enable a lightweight and flexible directed energy sensing system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 09, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412789
Entities
People
- Joseph B Andrews
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Wisconsin System