Hardness of Infrared Nanocrystal-Based Photodiode to Irradiations for Space Applications
Infrared (IR) sensing is essential for space applications such as remote sensing and spectroscopy, where sensors must withstand harsh radiation environments. Traditional IR sensors rely on II–VI and III–V semiconductor thin films, but emerging technologies like colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) offer cost-effective and scalable alternatives. However, the current study dedicated to their radiation tolerance remains very limited, thus leaving their potential unclear. This study investigates the radiation hardness of short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodiodes based on HgTe/CdS core–shell NCs, focusing on their resilience to X-ray, high-energy proton, and He + ion irradiations, key challenges for space missions. The HgTe/CdS NCs, known for their thermal stability and low dark current, were processed into a diode stack and subjected to irradiation. Using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and depth profiling, we correlated optoelectronic degradation with nanoscale chemical and structural modifications, such as anion oxidation and cation redistribution. These findings highlight the potential of colloidal NCs to operate in a harsh radiation environment.
Authors
- Mariarosa Cavallo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8768-5545)
- Jean-Marc Belloir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7323-456X)
- Sébastien Massenot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2127-0280)
- Vincent Goiffon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5024-0115)
- Marc Paye
- Emmanuel Lhuillier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2582-1422)
- S. Demiguel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6099-4672)
- Valentin Bonnet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8161-2006)
- Debora Pierucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8751-1994)
- Adrien Khalili (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5685-9963)
- Dario Mastrippolito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6360-7254)
- Anna Gagliardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4311-5671)
- I. Vickridge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1817-3378)
- Dipak Maity (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9792-0281)
- Clément Gureghian
- Tommaso Gemo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8399-9706)
- Alexandre Neyret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2589-1735)
- Jiho Roh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9738-2008)
- Bingbing Xia
- Emrick Briand
- Clemence Villefroy
- Albin Colle
- Pierre Giudicelli-Vernet
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Leonardo (United States) (US)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) (FR)
- Centre National d'Études Spatiales (FR)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Institut des NanoSciences de Paris (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Applied Electronic Materials
- Published
- 2026-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.6c00756
- Primary Topic
- Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche