Infrared Detectors Made from Quantum Dots: A Keener Eye for the Invisible
December 3, 2024
Swiss Confederation
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a new type of infrared detector made from quantum dots. These detectors are far more sensitive than traditional infrared detectors, which could lead to a wide range of new applications, such as night vision, medical imaging, and industrial inspection.
Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye. Infrared detectors work by converting infrared radiation into visible light, which can then be seen by a human observer. Traditional infrared detectors are made from materials such as lead selenide or mercury cadmium telluride. These materials are expensive and difficult to manufacture, and they are not very sensitive to infrared radiation.
Quantum dots are tiny semiconductor particles that are only a few nanometers in diameter. They have unique optical properties that make them ideal for use in infrared detectors. Quantum dots can be tuned to absorb specific wavelengths of infrared radiation, and they can then emit visible light with a corresponding wavelength. This makes them much more sensitive than traditional infrared detectors, which are only sensitive to a broad range of wavelengths.
The EPFL researchers have developed a new process for manufacturing quantum dot infrared detectors. This process is much simpler and less expensive than traditional methods, and it can be used to produce detectors with a wide range of sensitivities. The researchers have also shown that their detectors are very stable and reliable, even under harsh conditions.
The new quantum dot infrared detectors could have a wide range of applications. They could be used in night vision devices to allow soldiers and law enforcement officers to see in the dark. They could also be used in medical imaging to detect tumors and other abnormalities. And they could be used in industrial inspection to detect defects in products.
The EPFL researchers are now working to commercialize their new technology. They have founded a startup company called SensiQ Technologies, which is developing a range of quantum dot infrared detectors for different applications. SensiQ Technologies is expected to launch its first products in 2025.
Additional Information
- Quantum dots are a type of semiconductor nanocrystal. They are made from a core of one semiconductor material, such as cadmium selenide, and a shell of another semiconductor material, such as zinc sulfide. The core-shell structure gives quantum dots their unique optical properties.
- The wavelength of light that a quantum dot emits depends on the size of the core. Smaller cores emit shorter wavelengths of light, while larger cores emit longer wavelengths of light.
- Quantum dot infrared detectors are made by depositing a layer of quantum dots on a substrate. The substrate is typically made from a transparent material, such as glass or plastic. The quantum dots are then electrically connected to the substrate, which allows them to convert infrared radiation into visible light.
- Quantum dot infrared detectors have a number of advantages over traditional infrared detectors. They are more sensitive, less expensive, and more stable. They can also be tuned to absorb specific wavelengths of infrared radiation, which makes them ideal for a variety of applications.
Infrared detectors made from quantum dots – A keener eye for the invisible
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