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Thermodynamic Limits to HgTe Quantum Dot Infrared Detector Performance

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Abstract

The potential detectivity limits of HgTe nanocrystal quantum dot photodetectors are examined using a microscopic detailed balance model of carrier generation and recombination. We find that even with the fast nonradiative recombination typical of present materials, HgTe quantum dot solids can support equilibrium detectivities which are close to those of Auger-limited HgCdTe crystals. It is further shown that if such nonradiative recombination can be reduced so that Auger-limited performance is achieved, the confluence of fast radiative and slow Auger recombination should enable large upper limits on achievable detectivities when compared to HgCdTe. These results are discussed in the context of future advances in infrared photodetection with nanocrystal quantum dots.

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Acknowledgments

C.M. gratefully acknowledges Hannah Yi for assistance with the coding aspects of this work. C.M. was financially supported by ARO Grant W911NF-18-1-0207, DARPA Grant 140D6318C01001 via subcontract 0101-18-SUOC-0002 to Sivananthan Laboratories, and the University of Chicago Physical Sciences Division.

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  1. James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Christopher Melnychuk & Philippe Guyot-Sionnest

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Melnychuk, C., Guyot-Sionnest, P. Thermodynamic Limits to HgTe Quantum Dot Infrared Detector Performance. J. Electron. Mater. 51, 1428–1435 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-021-09414-5

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