New Semiconductor Material Developed for Short-Wave Infrared Sensors

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science has developed a high-quality compound semiconductor material for ultra-sensitive short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensors. The study is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

SWIR sensors deliver clear visual information even in low-light conditions, detecting both infrared reflected off objects and that emitted directly by them. While traditionally used in military equipment such as night vision devices, SWIR sensors are now expanding into diverse fields, including autonomous vehicles, semiconductor process monitoring, and smart farm cameras for plant growth observation.

In infrared sensors, the semiconductor material plays a critical role in detecting light signals and converting them into electrical signals. SWIR sensors designed for advanced applications typically employ compound semiconductors—materials composed of two or more elements—due to their significantly higher electron mobility compared to single-element silicon semiconductors. This enhanced mobility allows for the detection of faint light signals with superior energy efficiency.