Infrared photon detectors based on conjugated polymers

ALTAIR Center proposes to develop an innovative highly sensitive infrared photon detectors operating at room temperature in the 3-12 mm range. This new concept is based on the effect of infrared stimulated fluorescence or photoconductivity in thin films ofconjugated polymers. Our preliminary study of specially designed polymers demonstrated the presence of traps with the energy of excited state of 0.1-0.2 eV (5-10 mm range) below the lowest polymer excited state. The nature of these traps is associated withformation of the charge transfer complex or polymer aggregation. The trap sites should be initially populated by selective UV-Vis excitation. Then the incident infrared radiation supplies additional energy for excitation of highly emissive/conductivepolymer states inducing fluorescence or photocurrent. Thus the infrared signal can be directly converted into a visible emission or photocurrent. In Phase I we will demonstrate this new effect and identify the best material exhibiting highest sensitivityand resolution to infrared radiation. In Phase II, this material will be optimized and implemented into the design of a prototype uncooled mid-infrared photon detector that will be delivered to DOD by the end of the project.The simple, flexible andcost-efficient polymer technology allows fabrication of the MIR detectors of large size and direct visualization of IR images with molecular spatial resolution. In addition to immediate DOD applications in laser radar and lidar systems, range finding,tracking and surveying, the proposed system will be applicable to many civilian areas, including: telecommunications, free-space wireless communication, environmental monitoring, metrology and medicine.