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Near-infrared imaging with quantum-dot-sensitized organic photodiodes

Nature Photonics volume 3, pages 332–336 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Solution-processed photodiodes with infrared sensitivities at wavelengths beyond the bandgap of silicon (corresponding to a wavelength of ∼1,100 nm) would be a significant advance towards cost-effective imaging. Colloidal quantum dots are highly suitable as infrared absorbers for photodetection, but high quantum yields have only been reported with photoconductors1,2,3. For imaging, photodiodes are required to ensure low-power operation and compatibility to active matrix backplanes4. Organic bulk heterojunctions5 are attractive as solution-processable diodes, but are limited to use in the visible spectrum. Here, we report the fabrication and application of hybrid bulk heterojunction photodiodes containing PbS nanocrystalline quantum dots as sensitizers for near-infrared detection up to 1.8 µm, with rectification ratios of ∼6,000, minimum lifetimes of one year and external quantum efficiencies of up to 51%. By integration of the solution-processed devices on amorphous silicon active matrix backplanes, we demonstrate for the first time near-infrared imaging with organic/inorganic hybrid photodiodes.

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Figure 1: PbS–QD-sensitized organic NIR imager.
Figure 2: Current–voltage and spectral properties of IO-HPDs.
Figure 3: Photoresponse and dynamic properties of hybrid photodiodes.
Figure 4: Characterization of the imager illuminated at 1,310 nm (1.6 mW cm−2).

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Acknowledgements

W.H. and M.K. are grateful for support from the Austrian Science Fund FWF (projects START Y179 and SFB-Iron).

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Author notes

  1. Michaela Böberl & Jens Fürst

    Present address: Present address: Siemens VAI MT GmbH & Co, I IS MT IR AG T, 4031 Linz, Austria (M.B.); Siemens AG, H IM CVV, 91058 Erlangen, Germany (J.F.),

  2. Tobias Rauch and Michaela Böberl: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Siemens AG, Corporate Technology, CT MM1, Erlangen, 91058, Germany

    Tobias Rauch, Sandro F. Tedde, Jens Fürst & Oliver Hayden

  2. Christian Doppler Laboratory for Surface Optics, Institute of Semiconductor and Solid State Physics, University of Linz, Linz, 4040, Austria

    Michaela Böberl & Günter Hesser

  3. Institute of Semiconductor and Solid State Physics, University of Linz, Linz, 4040, Austria

    Maksym V. Kovalenko & Wolfgang Heiss

  4. Light Technology Institute, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Karlsruhe, 76128, Germany

    Uli Lemmer

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Correspondence to Tobias Rauch or Oliver Hayden.

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Rauch, T., Böberl, M., Tedde, S. et al. Near-infrared imaging with quantum-dot-sensitized organic photodiodes. Nature Photon 3, 332–336 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.72

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