Quantum Dots, Organics, and 2D Materials: Hybrid CMOS SWIR Sensing

Quantum Dots (QDs), Organics, and 2D Materials have very promising prospects in image sensing.  Fully printed organic sensor array are also maturing now. QDs and organic can be integrated with CMOS read-out-circuits (ROIC) to enable global-shutter low-cost NIR, SWIR, and even MWIR sensors. 2D Materials are a lower TRL, but worth keeping an eye on

QDs and organic can be integrated with CMOS read-out-circuits (ROIC) to enable global-shutter low-cost NIR, SWIR, and even MWIR sensors. This will be addressing key classical problems faced by the incumbent InGaAs sensor technology, namely the large pitch and the high cost.  There still much work to do, namely improving pixel size, improving stability (light and thermal), simplifying hermetic packaging, raising operational temperature without increasing noise floor, etc.

In addition, organics can be added to CMOS sensors to enable global shutter with large full well capacitors (FWCs). This is possible because the use of evaporated organics can separate the photosensitive area from the read-out layer, thus opening up more retail estate for the FWCs. The same approach may be possible using QDs.

Fully printed organic sensors are also maturing now. They can produce large-area active or passive sensor arrays, for use in fingerprint detection, x-ray detection, warehouse monitoring, and sensing in mobile phones.

2D materials beyond graphene also offer excellent prospects when it comes to photo-sensing. They are low TRL, but it is very important to keep an eye on their development.