Development of Low Cost Infrared Focal Plane Arrays For Passive Chemical Detection Using Colloidal Quantum Dots

We propose to develop low cost extended range Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) using Colloidal Quantum Dots (CQDs) technology. We have successfully produced a SWIR FPA camera with a resolution of 640 x 512 pixels and a sensitivity from 0.4 mm to 1.7 mm at room temperature. Our first initiative will be to extend the operational wavelength range to 2.5 mm, and then 3.0 mm. We have already demonstrated single pixel detectors using the same underlying structure with a response up to 2.2 mm. Presently, SWIR cameras are based on InGaAs and have a room temperature operational range of 0.9 to 1.6 mm. The CQD-based SWIR FPA that we propose would be on the order of 6-7 times less expensive, and would extend the operational range to 2.5 - 3 um, greatly enhancing its utility. Other issues that will be addressed include establishing manufacturing scalability and batch-to-batch consistency; and fabrication of a detector of comparable size to a commercial focal plane array. We will integrate this FPA technology with proprietary Brimrose AOTF technology to develop extended range SWIR hyperspectral imaging systems for real-time, passive standoff detection, identification and real-time display of chemical vapor and aerosol clouds.