Low-Cost High-Speed Uncooled Infrared Detector Using Graphene and Nanoparticles

Nanohmics proposes to develop novel low-cost, high-speed, uncooled infrared (IR) detectors for soldier-worn sensors. The novel, compact, light-weight broadband IR photodetector will be based on a hybrid graphene-nanoparticle (graphene-NP) phototransistor for high-speed, high-performance and gate-tunable IR detection at room-temperature. The hybrid structure will comprise a CVD-grown graphene layer coated with non-toxic Ti2O3 IR-absorbing NP islands. CVD-grown graphene will enable low-cost mass production and provide improved CMOS compatibility. The proposed detector will use solution processable non-toxic Ti2O3 nanoparticles as the IR sensitizer instead of the more conventional toxic metal-containing semiconductor NPs. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of a low-cost uncooled photodetector by designing, fabricating, and testing a proof-of-principle graphene-NP photodetector element with high detectivity D* and electronic bandwidth above 1 kHz, achieving a technology readiness level of TRL 3. The Phase II program will advance the graphene-NP detector from proof-of-concept to a scaled-up prototype image sensor array, achieving TRL 4. Phase II will include the development of a fabrication process for focal plane array detectors, and further optimization of the prototype design to increase performance and reduce cost.