A single atom thick graphene LWIR infrared sensor with nanophotonic integration (Invited Paper)

e-skin Displays has developed a graphene-based uncooled infrared sensor operating at the nanophotonic level. This single-atom-thick sensor has a specific detectivity (D*) exceeding 10^9 and a noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) below 50 mK. Its nanosecond response enables MHz frame rates, capturing dynamic infrared scenes. The key innovation is integrating this graphene sensor onto an existing FLIR readout integrated circuit (ROIC) with a 1/2 million pixel focal plane array (FPA). This creates a highly sensitive, uncooled infrared camera system operating at room temperature. The sensor's nanoscale dimensions and CMOS compatibility ensure seamless ROIC integration. The sensor's broadband absorption allows for multi-spectral and hyperspectral “color” infrared imaging, enabling object detection based on spectral signatures. This opens new possibilities in material identification, gas sensing, and advanced thermal analysis. This technology demonstrates the feasibility of nanophotonic device integration for next-generation infrared imaging systems. It holds potential across defense, security, industrial monitoring, medical diagnostics, and scientific research.