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Abstract Space missions critically rely on sensors that operate throughout the near‐ to longwave infrared (NIR – LWIR, λ = 0.9–14 µm) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. These sensors capture data beyond the capabilities of traditional optical tools and sensors, critical for the detection of thermal emissions, conducting atmospheric studies, and surveillance. However, conventional NIR‐LWIR detectors depend on bulky, cryogenically cooled semiconductors, making them impractical for broader space‐based applications due to their high cost, size, weight, and power (C‐SWaP) demands. Here, an IR photodetector using a solution‐processed narrow bandgap conjugated polymer is demonstrated. This direct bandgap photoconductor demonstrates exceptional infrared sensitivity without cooling and has minimal changes in figures‐of‐merit after substantial ionizing radiation exposure up to 1,000 krad – equivalent to three years in the most intense low Earth orbit (LEO). Its performance and resilience to radiation notably surpass conventional inorganic detectors, with a 7.7 and 98‐fold increase in radiation hardness when compared to epitaxial mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) and indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) photodiodes, respectively, offering a more affordable, compact, and energy‐efficient alternative. This class of organic semiconductors provides a new frontier for C‐SWaP optimized IR space sensing technologies, enabling the development of new spacecraft and missions with enhanced observational capabilities. 

Abstract Infrared photodiodes based on organic semiconductors are promising for low‐cost sensors that operate at room temperature. However, their realization remains hampered by poor device efficiency. Here, performance limitations are analyzed by evaluating the mobility‐lifetime products and charge collection efficiency of devices operating in the shortwave infrared with a peak absorption at 1550 nm. Through complementary impedance and current‐voltage measurements on devices with different donor‐to‐acceptor semiconductor ratios, a trade‐off between mobility and recombination time and the need to balance between transport and interfacial charge transfer are observed. Thus, this study revisits the mobility‐lifetime metric to shed new light on charge collection constraints in organic infrared photodiodes. 

Abstract Photodetectors operating across the near‐ to short‐wave infrared (NIR–SWIR,λ= 0.9–1.8 µm) underpin modern science, technology, and society. Organic photodiodes (OPDs) based on bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) active layers overcome critical manufacturing and operating drawbacks inherent to crystalline inorganic semiconductors, offering the potential for low‐cost, uncooled, mechanically compliant, and ubiquitous infrared technologies. A constraining feature of these narrow bandgap materials systems is the high noise current under an applied bias, resulting in specific detectivities (D^*, the figure of merit for detector sensitivity) that are too low for practical utilization. Here, this study demonstrates that incorporating wide‐bandgap insulating polymers within the BHJ suppresses noise by diluting the transport and trapping sites as determined using capacitance‐frequency analysis. The resultingD^*of NIR–SWIR OPDs operating from 600–1400 nm under an applied bias of −2 V is improved by two orders of magnitude, from 10⁸to 10¹⁰ Jones (cm Hz^1/2 W⁻¹), when incorporating polysulfone within the blends. This broadly applicable strategy can reduce noise in IR‐OPDs enabling their practical operation and the realization of emerging technologies. 

Low-energy, infrared (IR) photodetection forms the foundation for industrial, scientific, energy, medical, and defense applications. State-of-the-art technologies suffer from limited modularity, intrinsic fragility, high-power consumption, require cooling, and are largely incompatible with integrated circuit technologies. Conjugated polymers offer low-cost and scalable fabrication, solution processability, room temperature operation, and other attributes that are not available using current technologies. Here, we demonstrate new materials and device paradigms that enable an understanding of emergent light-matter interactions and optical to electrical transduction of IR light. Photodiodes show a response to 2.0 μm, while photoconductors respond across the near- to long-wave infrared (1–14 µm). Fundamental investigations of polymer and device physics have resulted in improving performance to levels now matching commercial inorganic detectors. This is the longest wavelength light detected for organic materials and the performance exceeds graphene at longer wavelengths. Photoconductors outperform their inorganic counterparts and operate at room temperature with higher response speeds.