III-V and II-VI compound semiconductors have long dominated high sensitivity IR detection applications. In recent years, technologies such as strained layer superlattices have emerged, but they still require cooling. We have recently demonstrated uncooled detection in predominantly the SWIR with residual detection in the MWIR and LWIR. The devices operate at uncooled, ambient temperatures and exhibit mA/W responsivities when measured against a cavity blackbody radiator, have low-kHz -3 dB electronic bandwidths, but with specific detectivities comparable to III-V and II-VI semiconductors. In one example, a polymer with an undoped SWIR bandgap well beyond 1 μm—a first for any polymer system—demonstrated broadband responsivity of 6.5 mA/W against a cavity blackbody radiator. An introduction to conjugated polymers is included that provides a bridge between the polymer and semiconductor communities.
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