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Updated: May 7, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Colloidal Quantum-Dot Heterojunction Imagers for Room-Temperature Thermal Imaging
Ge Mu1, Xiaolong Zheng1, Yimei Tan1,2
1School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China.
Abstract:
Room-temperature operation or high-operation temperature (HOT) is essential for mid-wave infrared (MWIR) optoelectronics devices providing low-cost and compact systems for numerous applications. Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as a rising candidate to enable photodetectors to operate at HOT or room temperature and develop the next-generation infrared focal plane array (FPA) imagers. Here, band-engineered heterojunctions are demonstrated to suppress dark current with well-passivated mercury telluride (HgTe) CQDs enabling room-temperature MWIR imaging by single-pixel scanning and 640 × 512 FPA sensitive thermal imaging above 250 K. As a result, the room-temperature detectivity reaches as high as 1.26 × 1010 Jones, and the noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) is as good as 25 mK up to 200 K.
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