Photodiodes based on cost-effective silicon expand the usable range in measurement technologies

Project MesSi develops silicon-based photodiodes for the near-infrared range.

Image sensors and their core component, the photodiode, are indispensable in numerous applications, whether in process, measurement, automotive or safety technology. In the near-infrared range, which is important for many analytical applications, silicon-based photodiodes do not yet offer sufficient sensitivity. Therefore, other materials are used, but they are expensive and partly harmful to the environment. In a new project at the Fraunhofer IPMS, sensitive silicon-based photodiodes, which are more cost-efficient in production, are being developed. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany (BMBF) funds the MesSi project with 566,000 euros for a period of three years.

Scanning electron microscopy image of cylindric pyramdial structures. @ Fraunhofer IPMS

Photodiodes can be found everywhere – as image sensors in cameras inspecting surfaces in process technology or in spectroscopy systems in metrology. In the visible range almost all photodiodes today are made of silicon, as this material is used by default in the semiconductor industry and can therefore be produced more cost-efficiently.

However, in the near-infrared range, not visible to the human eye, silicon-based photodiodes have not been used to date, due to their low sensitivity. For this reason, materials such as indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) are used in this range. This material requires its own manufacturing processes however, which are not compatible with silicon semiconductor technology and therefore result in high costs. In addition, heavy metals such as arsenic are used in the manufacturing process. This stands in contradiction to efforts to make the production of microelectronics more environmentally friendly.

New silicon photodiodes combine cost-effective production and precise sensitivity

For the first time, Fraunhofer IPMS is now pursuing a new research approach to help low-cost silicon photodiodes achieve sufficient sensitivity in the near-infrared. “The innovation is based on the implementation of a new structure in our photodiode,” explains project coordinator Michael Müller from Fraunhofer IPMS. “Instead of the usual planar device topography, we use novel pyramidal and ring structures that function like a light collecting basin. With a very thin metal layer in the Schottky barrier, we increase the internal quantum efficiency – meaning the number of charge carriers generated by light in the semiconductor. We think that these two innovations will significantly increase sensitivity and enable near-infrared applications with silicon photodiodes for the first time.” The new approach not only offers economic advantages by using established silicon semiconductor technologies, but has also ecological advantages, as the use of heavy metals can be avoided. This makes it a crucial contribution to sustainability in the semiconductor industry.

Development of new applications

In the future, silicon photodiodes can enable a range of new applications in the near-infrared range, particularly in price-sensitive but high-volume markets. One example is autonomous driving, which requires new LiDAR sensors and fog cameras for effective environmental monitoring. This is particularly important when visibility is obstructed by smoke or fog, which causes optical cameras in the visible range to fail. Security technology would also benefit from this, with applications ranging from the protection of critical infrastructure to the private sector. There are also numerous applications in chemical and medical imaging as well as spectroscopy. Hyperspectral imaging in the near-infrared is particularly used in process measurement technology in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries to detect and analyze organic materials and material mixtures.

About Fraunhofer IPMS
Fraunhofer IPMS is one of the leading international research and development service providers for electronic and photonic microsystems in the application fields of intelligent industrial solutions and manufacturing, medical technology and health, and mobility. In two state-of-the-art clean rooms and with a total of four development sites in Dresden, Cottbus and Erfurt, the institute develops innovative MEMS components and microelectronic devices on 200 mm and 300 mm wafers. Services range from consulting and process development to pilot production.

Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:

Michael Mueller – michael.mueller@ipms.fraunhofer.de

https://www.ipms.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/press/2024/Silicon-based-photodiodes.html