Multi-Color Nanomembrane Imaging Sensor Arrays

ABSTRACT: The simultaneous sensing of light of multiple wavelengths can enhance the survivability, sustainability, and versatility by enabling unmanned reconnaissance and intelligent surveillance for both DoD and homeland security. The objective of this STTR Phase I proposal is to investigate the feasibility of a new type of multi-color/band nanomembrane imaging sensor array system, based on vertically integrated crystalline semiconductor nanomembrane photodetectors and nanomembrane electronics. Such imaging system can have high resolution and high speed, with lightweight and long term reliability. The system can be integrated on both rigid and flexible substrate, for conformal and wearable imaging systems, with a much simplified material integration and assembly processes. In this program, Semerane Inc. will work closely with University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Texas at Arlington, on low-temperature nanomembrane integration technology and new device configurations, based on its earlier work in nanomembrane electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. It is expected that the successful development of the conformal, lightweight, and multi-color imaging system through this STTR project will generate significant impact on the military and commercial imaging, sensing, and communication applications. BENEFIT: The mission of Semerane Inc. is to commercialize the semiconductor nanomembrane technology for the commercial realizations of high performance, low-cost photonic and electronic components and intelligent system integration. The successful development of a practical multi-color imager system can offer a wide range of applications in the areas of hyper-spectral imaging (combat identification and target recognition), gas sensing (chem-bio detection and spectrometer-on-a-chip), as well as information processing (WDM-on-a-chip), etc. The processes developed here would lead to an even broader area of applications, including high capacity, low cost data network, optical computing, flexible displays, solid-state lighting, energy harvest (multi-junction tandem photovoltaic cells), infrared night vision, image and gas sensing for medical, biological, environmental, military, and home land security applications.