STTR Phase I: High efficiency low noise detectors for high operating temperature IR cameras

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目提出了一种变革性技术，通过开发一种对红外光子吸收敏感的新型纳米结构探测器，来克服当前中波长红外（MWIR）探测器技术的现状。传统的平面MWIR光电探测器从根本上受到电结面积与光采集面积等效和暗电流受产生复合电流限制的限制。为了最大限度地提高量子效率，吸收材料必需的大收集厚度导致暗电流密度的有害影响，降低了信噪比。所提出的技术是基于自对准III-V纳米柱的三维等离子体天线。与目前的平面探测器相比，所提出的技术有望在3 - 5微米波长范围内的探测性提高1 - 2个数量级。该技术有望大幅降低红外相机的尺寸、重量和功耗要求。该项目具有更广泛的影响/商业潜力，通过将学术研究转化为技术进步和随后的产品开发，为社会效益提供了几种途径。本提案将阐明MWIR中三维等离子体天线和纳米结构的基础科学，并将传播给研究界。该公司还将与更大的行业合作伙伴合作开发MWIR相机产品，这将为当地社区带来就业机会。该技术的成功实施将导致MWIR相机产品具有较小的外形尺寸和较低的价格点。由此产生的摄像头产品将成为监控和家庭自动化市场的颠覆性技术。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes a transformative technology to overcome state of the art mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) detector technology by developing a novel nanostructured detector architecture sensitive to infrared photon absorption. Traditional planar MWIR photodetectors are fundamentally limited by both the electrical junction area being equivalent with the optical collection area and the dark current being limited by generation recombination current. The requisite large collection thickness of the absorbing material to maximize quantum efficiency results in a deleterious effect for dark current density reducing signal to noise ratio. The proposed technology is based on a 3D plasmonic antenna of self-aligned III-V nanopillars. The proposed technology is expected to result in a 1 - 2 order improvement in detectivity in the 3 - 5 micron wavelength range compared to state of the art planar detectors. The proposed technology is expected to substantially reduce the size, weight and power consumption requirements of IR cameras. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project offers several routes to societal benefit by transitioning academic research into technology advancement and subsequent product development. This proposal will elucidate the fundamental science of 3D plasmonic antennas and nanostructures in the MWIR which will be disseminated to the research community. The company will also pursue the development of a MWIR camera product in partnership with larger industry collaborators which will bring employment opportunities to the local community. The successful implementation of the proposed technology will result in a MWIR camera product with a small form factor at a lower price point. The resulting camera product would be a disruptive technology in both the surveillance and home automation markets.