Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a promising new technology for infrared imaging applications. Graduate researcher Shlok J. Paul heads the effort to create an environmentally-sustainable, cost-effective approach. They exploit colloidal quantum dots to achieve dramatic improvements in the sensitivity of infrared detectors. They reported their results in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. These results address key issues in manufacturing large-area infrared imaging arrays.
The newly developed sensors are incredibly fast. They respond to infrared light in only a microsecond. That’s a whole lot faster than the blink of an eye! This step forward allows astronomers to find signals no faint as one billionth of a watt of light. This capability is fundamental to a variety of applications, including medical imaging and environmental monitoring.
Addressing Industry Challenges
The research addresses the urgent concerns of infrared camera makers. Traditional infrared detectors, which are essential for applications ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles, typically use toxic heavy metals. As environmental regulations grow stricter, many materials are increasingly becoming banned. This conundrum has become a critical challenge for manufacturers seeking to achieve optimal performance and durability, while becoming more sustainable.
Ayaskanta Sahu, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon, is the senior author of this study. He urged everyone to understand how dire things are.
“The industry is facing a perfect storm where environmental regulations are tightening just as demand for infrared imaging is exploding.”
Factory owners or manufacturers need smart high-performance detection solutions over large areas. Fabrication methods to create today’s infrared detectors are time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly endeavors. They require like depositing atoms one by one on top of the detector’s pixels. To support this process, the researchers’ innovation makes it faster and easier—helping cities become more efficient and sustainable.
The Advantages of Colloidal Quantum Dots
Colloidal quantum dots became the focus for Paul and his team because of their size-edge tuned properties. Additionally, scientists are able to ‘tune’ these nanometer-sized particles to emit and detect light at specific wavelengths. This feature gives them overwhelming advantages in infrared applications. The operational readiness afforded by such a response to infrared signals is how these devices can completely outrun outdated technology.
“What excites me is that we can take a material long considered too difficult for real devices and engineer it to be more competitive,” said Paul. Colloidal quantum dots can dramatically transform infrared imaging. As such, they present a strong and exciting new alternative to conventional detectors, shifting the future of this technology.
Implications for Future Technologies
The implications of this research go far beyond just academic interest. From autonomous vehicles to advanced medical diagnostics, industries are making hot new infrared imaging technologies available today. As this dependence increases, so does the need for efficient, effective, and greener solutions. Sahu says that every infrared camera you find in a Tesla or smartphone requires detectors that are environmentally friendly by design. These detectors need to be affordable in cost.
The team’s work makes a big step toward the eventual adoption of these eco-friendly detectors in commercial products. This NRI development will eventually contribute to the creation of greener technology. If integrating colloidal quantum dots proves successful, our production will enable a new class of infrared imaging systems. These systems will be sustainable and produce minimal harm to the environment.