New ultra-sensitive membrane for infrared detection
(Photo: MIT)
April 23, 2025 – Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed ultra-thin electronic films that are highly sensitive to infrared (heat) radiation. The team created a membrane made of pyroelectric material—a heat-sensitive substance that generates an electric current in response to temperature changes. The thinner the pyroelectric layer, the better it can detect subtle thermal fluctuations.
Using their new method, the researchers produced the thinnest pyroelectric membrane to date, measuring just 10 nanometers thick. They also demonstrated that the film is highly responsive to heat and radiation in the far-infrared spectrum.
According to MIT, this innovation could pave the way for a new generation of electronic devices, such as ultra-thin wearable sensors, flexible transistors and computing components, and highly sensitive, compact imaging systems.
The findings were published on April 23 in Nature, under the title ‘Atomic lift-off of epitaxial membranes for cooling-free infrared detection.’
