YIP Mid-Infrared On-Chip Sensing with Solution-Processed Quantum Heterostructures
Abstract
Optical sensing in the mid-wave infrared (MIR) region is crucial for applications in bioimaging, medical diagnosis, night vision, and communication. Current technologies that rely on epitaxially grown semiconductors demand complex fabrication processes and cryogenic cooling to reach optimal performance, which restricts their integration into portable electronics and wearable devices. This project seeks to push the boundaries of infrared sensing technology by developing high-performance chip-integrated MIR sensors using solution-processed heterostructures. Here we propose heterostructures that integrate MIR-responsive colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) intohigh-mobility crystalline matrices. We hypothesize that uniformly mixing these components will harness the strengths of each: utilizing intraband transitions in CQDs, facilitating efficient carrier transport through the matrix, and enabling the extraction of photogenerated charges via field-assisted carrier tunneling. The considerable compositional and doping flexibility of each constituent allows for precise tuning of energetic barrier heights and widths, potentially mitigating thermally assisted carrier emission and increasing the operational temperature. Such advancements will produce photodetectors that are not only cost-effective and scalable butalso offer both high gain and fast response times at room temperature, making them ideally suited for future naval applications. Torealize these goals, our study will incorporate cutting-edge photophysical characterizations along with sophisticated materials anddevice design. We will carry out four research tasks:1)Designing MIR-responsive heterostructures to manipulate carrier distributionand flow, and controlling structural disorder and defects to optimize charge transport properties.2)Investigating the effects of internal (structural heterogeneity) and external (bias, temperature, light) influences on carrier dynamics through in-operando characterizations, with aparticular focus on understanding field-enhanced Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, thermionic emission, and carrier extraction efficiency.3)Developing MIR photodetectors that deliver high sensitivity and fast temporal response at high operating temperatures.4)Integrating the MIR photodetector and passive CMOS monolithically for enhanced on-chip sensing capabilities. Through these endeavors, the proposed study will offer a versatile toolkit for manipulating the electronic properties of hybrid systems and forge new strategies towards high-performance infrared optoelectronics. This project aligns with Naval research interests. The proposed low-cost, on-chip MIR sensor has the potential to benefit diverse naval applications such as navigation, surveillance, gas exploration, and rescue operations.This project summary is approved for public release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 24, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512144
Entities
People
- Mengxia Liu
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Yale University