On Thursday, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced that a research team led by Professor Kim Sang Hyun has developed a pioneering mid-infrared photodetector technology. This revolutionary device operates efficiently at room temperature without the need for a cooling system.
Mid-infrared analysis, often called “optical fingerprinting,” utilizes the unique molecular absorption characteristics of mid-infrared light to analyze atmospheric components. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope uses similar mid-infrared photodetectors to explore the molecular makeup of exoplanet atmospheres.
This cutting-edge technology, capable of detecting even the weakest light signals, is a potential breakthrough in environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and space exploration.
Traditional mid-infrared photodetectors have been hindered by heat generation, requiring cooling systems during use. Additionally, their incompatibility with silicon-based semiconductor manufacturing (CMOS) processes has posed challenges in miniaturization and mass production.
To address these challenges, the research team developed a miniature mid-infrared photodetector using germanium, a Group 14 element akin to silicon. This innovative design integrates a waveguide, enabling light to travel without loss.
Utilizing the bolometric effect, which detects temperature changes induced by light absorption and converts them into electrical signals, the team achieved high-performance detection across a broad mid-infrared spectrum at ambient temperature, eliminating the need for cooling devices.
The team successfully applied this technology to ultra-compact and ultra-thin optical sensors, a groundbreaking achievement. They demonstrated its real-world potential by detecting carbon dioxide in real time, showing its applicability in environmental monitoring and hazardous gas detection.
According to the research team, this innovation solves the challenges of high costs and complicated manufacturing processes with existing mid-infrared photodetectors. They foresee its use in various fields, including environmental monitoring, healthcare, smart devices, and defense.
Kim emphasized the significance of their work, stating, “Our novel approach overcomes the limitations of existing mid-infrared sensor technology. By leveraging CMOS processes, we’ve made low-cost mass production possible. We anticipate this technology will be widely adopted in next-generation environmental monitoring, smart manufacturing, and other applications.”
The groundbreaking research has been published in the prestigious international journal Light: Science & Applications.