Development of a New Quantum Dot Infrared Sensor: Over 10 Times Better Performance than Existing Models

KAIST Research Team Opens New Horizons in Quantum Technology, ‘Recently, in the field of quantum qubit technology, avalanche photodiode devices using crystalline semiconductors have been utilized to secure quantum states. However, due to high thermal noise, cryogenic operation is essential, and the lack of materials with high detection efficiency in the infrared band has posed technical limitations,’
,
, ‘The research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) presented a breakthrough showing how quantum dot materials can be used in next-generation quantum technology. Avalanche photodiode devices are high-performance sensor devices that amplify and detect very faint light and are used in night vision goggles, autonomous vehicles, space observation, and quantum communication,’
,
, ‘On the 8th, KAIST (President Lee Kwang-hyung) announced that a research team led by Professor Lee Jung-yong from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering developed an avalanche electron amplification technology that can generate 85 times more electrons from the absorption of a single infrared photon using colloidal quantum dots, achieving sensitivity far beyond the limits of existing technology.’
,
,

The KAIST research team developed a quantum dot device that achieves high detection sensitivity by generating about 85 electrons from a single photon absorption using electron amplification technology. [Photo=KAIST],
,
, ‘Avalanche electron amplification technology refers to a signal amplification technique where electrons accelerate in a semiconductor under a strong electric field and generate multiple electrons by colliding with adjacent atoms.’
,
, ‘Colloidal quantum dots, chemically synthesized semiconductor nanoparticles, are gaining attention as a practical candidate for infrared sensors as solution-based semiconductors. They have different energy structures compared to crystalline semiconductors, suppressing the generation of thermal noise, but they encountered issues such as low charge mobility and frequent imperfect bonding on the quantum dot surface, leading to promoted charge recombination and reduced charge extraction.’
,
, ‘The research team achieved a sensitivity several thousand times higher than that of general night vision goggles by applying a strong electric field to accelerate electrons, gain kinetic energy, and generate a large number of additional electrons from adjacent quantum dots, resulting in an 85-fold signal amplification when infrared light was irradiated at room temperature.’
,
, ‘Infrared photodetectors play a key role in a wide range of applications from autonomous vehicles to quantum computing, but existing quantum dot-based technologies faced limitations due to sensitivity and noise issues.’
,
, ‘This research is expected to trigger a new paradigm shift. It is being evaluated as having secured an important technological foundation for South Korea to lead the global quantum technology market by preemptively acquiring core primary technologies related to quantum technology.’
,
, ‘Dr. Byeong-su Kim, the first author, said, “The quantum dot avalanche device is a novel research area that has not been reported before,” adding, “This foundational technology will lead to fostering venture companies that can spearhead markets such as autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, and medical imaging globally.”‘
,
, “This research, with the participation of Dr. Byeong-su Kim from KAIST’s Information and Electronics Research Institute, Dr. Sang-yeon Lee from IMEC, and Dr. Go Hyun-seok from the Korea Ceramic Technology Institute as co-first authors, was published in the December 18th online edition of the international academic journal ‘Nature Nanotechnology’ under the title: Ultrahigh-gain colloidal quantum dot infrared avalanche photodetectors,”
,
, ‘The KAIST research team developed a quantum dot device that achieves high detection sensitivity by generating about 85 electrons from a single photon absorption using electron amplification technology.’
,
,