High-Performance and Stable Colloidal Quantum Dots Imager via Energy Band Engineering

Solution-processed colloidal quantum dot (CQD) photodiodes are compatible for monolithic integration with silicon-based readout circuitry, enabling ultrahigh resolution and ultralow cost infrared imagers. However, top-illuminated CQD photodiodes for longer infrared imaging suffer from mismatched energy band alignment between narrow-bandgap CQDs and the electron transport layer. In this work, we designed a new top-illuminated structure by replacing the sputtered ZnO layer with a SnO₂ layer by atomic layer deposition. Benefiting from matched energy band alignment and improved heterogeneous interface, our top-illuminated CQD photodiodes achieve a broad-band response up to 1650 nm. At 220 K, these SnO₂-based devices exhibit an ultralow dark current density of 3.5 nA cm^-2 at -10 mV, reaching the noise limit for passive night vision. The detectivity is 4.1 × 10¹² Jones at 1530 nm. These SnO₂-based devices also demonstrate exceptional operation stability. By integrating with silicon-based readout circuitry, our CQD imager realizes water/oil discrimination and see-through smoke imaging.