NSF/Sandia: Collaborative Research: Hybrid Integration of Nano-Scale Quantum Dots with Micron-Scale Photonic Crystal Cavities for Infrared Sensors

这个NSF/Sandia合作研究项目（提交给NSF 05-616）的目标是开发具有宽光谱范围和高光谱分辨率的红外（IR）光电探测器阵列，以实现微/纳米系统中的气体传感光谱学。该方法是追求外延和胶体量子点（QD）与光刻定义的光子晶体（PC）腔的混合集成，以扩展光谱范围并控制光谱分辨率。水溶性胶体量子点胶束双层积木将研究有序的自组装和异质集成的外延和胶体量子点。 本研究将探讨纳米级量子点和微米级PC腔集成工艺和空间/光谱耦合方案，以增强红外传感器的性能。通过自组装（自下而上）和微制造（自上而下）技术的结合，本研究项目解决了长期存在的问题，即如何使用有序的胶体量子点自组装来实现功能器件，并作为集成系统的构建模块。这项研究将推进我们对混合材料的界面化学和物理的认识和理解，这可能导致其他新型纳米光子器件，包括光源，调制器和太阳能电池。这种研究和教育的综合方法的中心主题是使用完整的微/纳米系统，以提供跨越不同领域的多学科学习环境，包括应用物理，应用数学，化学，光学，光子学和半导体器件物理。将开发一个具有多光谱光子晶体红外光电探测器阵列（4x 4）的试验台，以演示红外传感的概念验证，并帮助开发纳米光子学和纳米材料的多学科课程。此外，将通过与为妇女和/或代表性不足的少数群体服务的区域机构的联系，招募代表性不足群体的本科生参加拟议的工作，这些机构包括Prairie View A M大学（得克萨斯州）、北卡罗来纳州中央大学（北卡罗来纳州达勒姆）、班尼特学院（北卡罗来纳州格林斯伯勒）和新墨西哥州大学。

The objective of this NSF/Sandia collaborative research project (submitted to NSF 05-616) is to develop infrared (IR) photodetector arrays with wide spectral range and high spectral resolution to enable gas sensing spectroscopy in a micro-/nano-system. The approach is to pursue the hybrid integration of epitaxial and colloidal quantum dots (QDs) with lithographically-defined photonic crystal (PC) cavities to extend the spectral range and control the spectral resolution. Water-soluble colloidal QD-micelle bilayer building blocks will be investigated for ordered self-assembly and heterogeneous integration of epitaxial and colloidal QDs. Nano-scale QD and micron-scale PC cavity integration processes and spatial/spectral coupling schemes will be explored for enhanced IR sensor performance.Through the combination of self-assembly (bottom-up) and micro-fabrication (top-down) techniques, this research project addresses the long-standing issue of how to use ordered, colloidal QD self-assembly to enable functional devices and to serve as building blocks for integrated systems. This research will advance our knowledge and understanding of the interfacial chemistry and physics of hybrid materials, which could lead to other novel nanophotonic devices, including light sources, modulators, and solar cells. The central theme of this integrated approach to research and education is the use of complete micro-/nano-systems to provide a multidisciplinary learning environment spanning diverse areas including applied physics, applied mathematics, chemistry, optics, photonics, and semiconductor device physics. A test-bed featuring a multi-spectral photonic crystal infrared photodetector array (4x4), will be developed in order to demonstrate proof-of-concept for IR sensing, and to help develop multi-disciplinary courses on nanophotonics and nanomaterials. In addition, undergraduate students from under-represented groups will be recruited to participate in the proposed work via links with regional institutions serving women and/or under-represented minorities, such as Prairie View A&M University (TX), North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC), Bennett College (Greensboro, NC), and University of New Mexico.