Biomaterial-based IR Detection

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop lightweight, low-cost and environmentally friendly biologically inspired thermal detection technology for military and commercial applications. To meet such requirements with biologically inspired molecules, we plan to develop and show with a materials perspective, how these materials can sense thermal/infrared (IR) radiation to be used and produced in uncooled imaging systems. Fractal Systems, Inc. proposes to investigate the usefulness of a carotenoid-crustacyanin, which exists in nature to use for uncooled IR detectors through their dehydration and rehydration processes. Thin films of the material will be fabricated using the self-assembly technique, which is very simple, and cheap compared to techniques currently used for conventional materials such as chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition or laser induced chemical vapor deposition techniques. The biomaterial films will be fully characterized to demonstrate their effectiveness as IR sensing materials. Upon successful conclusion of the Phase I feasibility program, Fractal Systems Inc. plans to take this effort further in Phase II with incorporation of the material into IR microbolometers. The qualification procedure will take place once we have completed the characterization effort and demonstrated that the developed design can be effective for uncooled infrared imaging.