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

STTR 第一阶段：适用于高工作温度红外摄像机的高效低噪声探测器

• 批准号: 1346335
• 负责人: Chung Hong Hung
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Nanopixel Technologies LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1346335&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; efficiency; low; noise

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.

这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目提出了一种变革性的技术，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架构，克服了最先进的中波长红外（MWIR）探测器技术。传统的平面MWIR光电探测器从根本上受到与光学收集区域等效的电结区域和受产生复合电流限制的暗电流两者的限制。 为了使量子效率最大化所需的吸收材料的大收集厚度导致暗电流密度降低信噪比的有害影响。 所提出的技术基于自对准III-V纳米柱的3D等离子体天线。与现有技术的平面检测器相比，预期所提出的技术在3 - 5微米波长范围内导致检测率的1 - 2阶改进。该技术有望大幅降低红外相机的尺寸、重量和功耗要求。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力通过将学术研究转变为技术进步和随后的产品开发，为社会效益提供了几条途径。该提案将阐明MWIR中3D等离子天线和纳米结构的基础科学，并将传播给研究界。该公司还将与大型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。所提出的技术的成功实施将导致一个MWIR相机产品具有较小的外形尺寸，价格较低。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。