New Paper:
Image sensors out of a spray can
Organic sensors increase light sensitivity of cameras
Researchers from Technische Universität München (TUM) have developed a new generation of image sensors that are more sensitive to light than the conventional silicon versions, with the added bonus of being simple and cheap to produce.
They consist of electrically conductive plastics, which are sprayed on to the sensor surface in an ultra-thin layer.
The chemical composition of the polymer spray coating can be altered so that even the invisible range of the light spectrum can be captured.
This opens up interesting new development possibilities for low-cost infrared sensors aimed at compact cameras and smartphones (Nature Communications).