SBIR Phase I: Large Diameter ZnS Single Crystal Substrates for II-VI-based UV-Detectors

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will investigate a novel sublimation crystal growth technique for producing large diameter, high quality zinc sulfide (ZnS) single crystal substrates suitable for fabricating specific UltraViolet (UV) detectors. These UV detectors that are visible/solar-blind with high detection efficiencies will have many important applications that require detection of weak UV radiation against a strong visible or infrared background. The proposed research effort will investigate a unique technique for producing large diameter, high quality ZnS single crystals in an efficient manner. One critical aspect in the development of these high performance UV detectors is to commercialize large diameter, lattice-matched, native single crystal substrates, particularly ZnS substrates. If the proposed sublimation growth technology is successfully adopted in volume production, large diameter, high quality ZnS single crystal substrates will become widely available commercially at an affordable price, which will greatly accelerate development and commercialization of high performance UV detectors.