Optoelectronic Materials

Our scientists are exploring new materials to enable novel and significantly improved photo-detectors for use in advanced focal plane arrays for the near infrared to long-wavelength infrared ranges. These materials include Si/Ge superlattices as well as nanodot materials, strained-layer PbSe-PbTeSe superlattices, and InAs/GaSb Type II superlattices.

Our nanoscale Si/Ge detectors on Si substrates have demonstrated enhanced absorption coefficients in the long wavelength range, not accessible with Si. This capability will enable the monolithic integration of Si/Ge photonic devices with Si electronic circuitry. We are also investigating new optoelectronic III-V and strained-layer PbSe-PbTeSe superlattices and devices for applications in infrared detectors in the 3- to 12-micron range.

Research Citations

Sood, A.K., Richwine, R.A., Puri, Y.R., DiLello, N., Hoyt, J.L., Akinwande, T.I., Horn, S., Balcerak, R.S., Bulman, G., Venkatasubramanian, R., et al. (2009)
Development of low dark current SiGe-detector arrays for visible-NIR imaging sensor: Presented at Infrared Technology and Applications XXXV Conference, Orlando, FL, April 13, 2009., Proceedings of SPIE, 7298 (72983D):.
Wu, A.Q., Xu, X., & Venkatasubramanian, R. (2008)
Ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited coherent phonon in Bi2Te3 thin films.
Applied Physics Letters, 92 (1):011108.
Kurtz, R.M., Alim, K.A., Pradhan, R.D., Exterkin, V., Savant, G.D., Venkatasubramanian, R., et al. (2007)
High-speed nano-optical photodetector for free space communication, Proceedings of SPIE, 6556 (65560H):.
Bulman, G.E., Kong, H.S., & Leonard, M.T. (2000)
GaN homojunction and AlGaN/GaN heterojunction visible-blind photodiodes grown on SiC, Proceedings of SPIE, 3948 (273):.