At this month’s International Image Sensor Workshop, Imec and Holst Centre presented a large-area fully-organic photodetector array fabricated on a flexible substrate. The imager is sensitive in the wavelength range suitable for x-ray imaging applications.
Because of their very high absorption coefficient, organic semiconductors allow extremely thin active layers (10-50nm). Also, given their low processing temperature, they can be processed on foils. As a result, organic imagers can be more robust and light-weight compared to their traditional counterparts and may be used for conformal coating of randomly shaped substrates. Moreover, the wide variety of organic molecules available ensures that the properties of the active layer can be tuned to applications requiring specific wavelength ranges.
The presented imager is sensitive in the wavelength range between 500 and 600nm, making it compatible with typical scintillators and therefore suitable for x-ray imaging applications.
'This latest achievement is a significant step forward in not only finding the optimal materials, but pinpointing the best ways to process materials into reliable organic circuits and systems with state-of-the-art performance,' said Paul Heremans, technology director at the Imec/Holst Centre. 'Once again, we’re proud to demonstrate how Imec’s top-notch research that leads to relevant industrial solutions, and subsequently brings added value to our partners’ businesses.'
