Synthetic Platform for Device-Agnostic Quantum Dot IR Photodetectors

The objective of this Phase II STTR is to develop a robust, reproducible synthetic model for scaling and manufacturing colloidal Quantum Dots (CQDs) for use in infrared photodetectors (IRPDs). The goal for the STTR program is to identify materials that will enable uncooled or thermoelectrically cooled, small and low-weight IR sensors and develop the synthetic knowledge base required to produce CQD absorbers with tunable wavelengths to meet the needs of any sensors developed for this spectral region. This model will result in a high Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) for the CQDs such that the produced materials will have predictable and highly reproducible optoelectronic properties.Ā In Phase I, ideal materials were selected to enable high performance absorbers in the IR spectral range. Through the Phase II work plan, Tetramer work with the University of Chicago to optimize the synthetic processes required for producing these materials, including post-synthetic modifications, and then scale CQD production to commercially-relevant batch quantities with low batch-to-batch variability. New QD compositions will be explored using the optimized synthetic approaches. Finally, industry partners will evaluate the CQD product in real-world IR photodetector systems to raise the MRL/TRL to 5-6 and demonstrate the commercial value of the STTR technology.