Project description
More practical and affordable mid-infrared sensors
Mid-infrared sensors are essential for many applications including environmental monitoring, medical imaging and food analysis. However, current technologies are not practical as they rely on expensive and complex grown semiconductors and require cryogenic temperatures. Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) offer a promising alternative owing to their low cost, ease of processing and compatibility with silicon technology. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MIRDOT project aims to develop cost-effective, high-performance mid-infrared sensors that work at room temperature. The innovation lies in upconverting mid-infrared to near-infrared light so that it can be reliably detected with standard silicon detectors at room temperature. As a proof of concept, MIRDOT will develop mid-infrared imaging and gas sensors, pushing CQD technology into new spectral regions.
Objective
Mid-infrared (MIR) sensors are pivotal in enabling a broad range of applications, including environmental monitoring, medical imaging, safety, and food analysis. The current sensing technologies within this spectral range (λ= 3-30 μm) rely on high-cost and complex fabrications of epitaxially grown semiconductors. These sensors are not monolithic to silicon photonics and require cryogenic operating temperatures, limiting their adoption to the market. Alternatively, colloidal quantum dots (CQD) offer unique properties for sensing MIR light, including low-cost production, ease of processing, and silicon CMOS compatibility. The MIRDOT project will develop room-temperature (RT), cost-effective, and high-performance MIR sensors using CQD. So far, CQD technology has revolutionized the optoelectronics industry, particularly through the development of advanced sensors such as PbS CQD near-infrared (NIR) image sensors. These sensors leverage interband transitions in CQD, limiting their sensitivity to the NIR region. Intraband transitions in CQD, however, enable access to MIR region. Previously, doped PbS and HgTe CQDs have been investigated for MIR detection through intraband absorption. Nevertheless, these detectors exhibit extremely poor sensitivity at RT due to structural constraints and background noise in the MIR. In this project, I propose to effectively address these limitations by upconverting MIR radiation to NIR emission, enabling reliable detection with standard silicon detectors at RT. In this project, I will develop CQD-MIR sensors by coupling doped PbS(Se) CQD with extreme plasmonic nanocavities under optical pumping. To integrate these sensors with CMOS technology, I will design and fabricate electrically-driven sensors. Finally, as proof-of-concept phase, I aim to develop MIR imaging and gas sensors that operate at RT using these CQD-MIR sensors. The MIRDOT project will extend CQD technology into new spectral regions, greatly advancing future technologies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics optoelectronics
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.