PFI:AIR - TT: Photo-type II-VI quantum well-based unipolar mid-infrared photodetectors

该PFI: AIR技术翻译项目专注于将基于II-VI材料的量子阱红外探测器的最新研究成果转化为市场，以满足环境，健康和安全应用中对坚固，无冷，高速，中红外光探测器的需求。该项目将产生基于新型II-VI量子阱单极光探测概念的光电探测器原型。这种探测器在其最佳状态下具有以下独特的特点：它将探测到比以前的探测器更宽的中红外波长范围内的光，它将坚固，紧凑，无冷却器，并在高速下运行；所有功能都是通过使用新颖的II-VI材料系统实现的。与市场上领先的半导体中红外光电探测器相比，这些功能提供了紧凑，广泛可用性，性能和成本节约的系统优势。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距：(i)将重新设计器件和封装布局，以便基本探测器芯片可以封装为市场准备，坚固，无冷却器和高速性能；（ii）探测器的新量子设计将导致在长中红外波长，特别是宽波长覆盖的无冷却器探测器。普林斯顿大学和纽约城市学院之间的联合项目与小型商业合作伙伴波士顿电子公司合作，波士顿电子公司是单像素中红外探测器的领先分销商，为客户和市场需求提供见解，并指导这项技术转化工作的商业化方面。II-VI材料基量子阱红外探测器是重要的，因为中红外探测器广泛应用于许多商业，医疗，安全和环境系统和应用，特别是化学点传感和热成像；有了改进的检测器，这些系统和应用将受益，它们的用户、日常消费者也将受益。此外，将一种潜在的颠覆性探测器技术引入有点古板的中红外探测器市场，将有利于推动成本和性能竞争，再次为用户带来更有利的结果。参与该项目的学生将亲身体验原型的开发和展示，获得从学术研究实验室到市场的技术转化的宝贵经验。在未来十年甚至更长时间内，潜在的经济影响预计将是巨大的，这将有助于美国在中红外单像素光探测器和成像技术领域的竞争力。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating recent research accomplishments in II-VI material-based Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors into the market place to fill the need for robust, cooler-free, high-speed, mid-infrared light detectors for applications in environment, health, and security. The project will result in a prototype of a photodetector based on the novel II-VI quantum well-based unipolar light detection concept. This detector at its best has the following unique features: it will detect light over a much wider mid-infrared wavelength range than prior detectors, it will be robust, compact, cooler-free, and operate at high speed; all features that are enabled by the use of the novel II-VI material system. These features provide system advantages of compactness, broad usability, performance, and cost-savings when compared to the leading competing semiconductor mid-infrared photodetectors in this market space. This project addresses the following technology gap(s) as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: (i) device and package lay-out will be newly designed so that the basic detector chips can be packaged for market-ready, robust, cooler-free, and high-speed performance; (ii) new quantum designs of the detectors will lead to cooler-free detectors at long mid-infrared wavelengths, and especially broad-wavelength coverage.The joint project between Princeton University and City College of New York engages small business partner Boston Electronics Corp., a leading distributor of single pixel mid-infrared photo-detectors to provide insights to customer and market needs and to guide commercialization aspects in this technology translation effort.The II-VI material-based Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector is important because mid-infrared detectors are widely used in many commercial, medical, security, and environmental systems and applications, especially point-sensing of chemicals and thermal imaging; with improved detectors, these systems and applications benefit, and so will their users, the everyday consumers. Furthermore, the introduction of a potentially disruptive detector technology into the somewhat staid mid-IR detector market will beneficially drive cost and performance competition, again leading to more favorable outcomes for users. A diverse group of students working on and alongside this project will first-hand experience prototype development and showcasing, gaining valuable experience in technology translation from the academic research lab into the market place. The potential economic impact is expected to be significant in the next decade and beyond, which will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in this mid-infrared single-pixel light detector and imaging technology space.