Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Black phosphorus is a stable allotrope of phosphorus that exhibits a layered structure that can be exfoliated,*like graphene, down to a single monolayer. This elemental 2D semiconductor offers several distinctive*features: remarkably high carrier mobilities, an anisotropic band structure, and a direct gap that efficiently*absorbs light. In addition, BP offers two characteristics unmatched by any other 2D or bulk materials: a tunable*direct bandgap from the mid-infrared to the visible via the sample thickness and the ability to dynamically tune*the gap through an applied electric field. These characteristics present unique opportunities for the*development of low-cost photodetectors with enhanced responsivities and operating frequencies in the*technologically important infrared region of the spectrum. In close partnership with Excelitas, one of the most*important photodetector manufacturers in the world, we will develop a number of infrared photodetector*architectures based on BP. In particular, we will develop electric-field tunable BP photodetectors to extend the*intrinsic spectral range of BP beyond 4 microns, we will enhance their sensitivity by using optical metasurfaces*and finally we will develop low-cost large-area BP detectors using solution-based processing of BP*nanoparticles. Black phosphorus detectors will have potential applications in telecommunications,*spectroscopy, range finding and thermal imaging. Within the context of this Project, we will specifically*benchmark BP tunable detectors as potential trace gas sensors.