Superlattice structure for photodetection incorporating coupled quantum dots

摘要

The present invention provides a monocrystalline solid-state structure for photodetection of radiation within a wavelength range (from about 3 µm to about 12 µm), said structure being carried by a semiconducting substrate, which substrate is essentially non-absorbent to radiation within said wavelength range. The solid state structure comprises a set of levelled superlattice columns arranged in parallel, where each superlattice column comprises an alternating series of quantum dots, in which each pair of two consecutive quantum dots comprises quantum dots arranged of a first and second semiconducting material, respectively. Furthermore, the solid state structure comprises a matrix material arranged in between said set of superlattice columns, the matrix material being a semiconducting material having a lattice-mismatch relative the quantum dots in the columns, and wherein the lattice constant of said matrix material is substantially equal to the lattice constant of said substrate.