Metalcomposite Nanomembrans for Advanced Infrared Photnics

The project is dedicated to the research of the basic properties of nanomembranes, nanosystem building blocks which appeared several years ago to become a new paradigm in nanotechnologies and related fields. We plan theoretical and experimental investigation of the basic electron, thermal and electromagnetic/optical properties of nanomembranes which are of interest for the implementation in photonics. As one of the practical results of the project, we intend to develop a prototype of advanced bolometric detector/emitter of infrared radiation with a built- in nanomembrane as the active element. We chose this course of action because in our prior research we observed that nanomembranes could integrate all functional elements of a contemporary bolometer or IR emitter in a single structure and at the same time enhance their performance. The project topic is a very recent one and actually most of the prior research was published in the 21st Century. Our prior work covers a reproducible manufacturing technology for metal composite nanomembranes, the works on alternative optimized technologies as well as preliminary characterization of nanomembranes. The project participants are experts in diverse fields as MEMS and NEMS generally, nanoscale heat transfer, thermal and photonic infrared detectors, measurement techniques, nanophotonics and plasmonics. The proposed project duration is three years. Planned results include original theoretical and practical solutions for nanomembrane functionalization and characterization. We expect these to subsequently open much wider possibilities for further research in various areas. Thus a continuation and intensifying of research in the field started by this project is expected after the conclusion of the project and in the years to come. Bearing in mind the wide interdisciplinary nature of the proposed project, new cooperations will necessarily have to join institutions from very diverse fields. The first practical results should be available during and immediately after the end of the project, with others to follow in the next 3-5 years. This could eventually lead to the start of new HiTec SMEs. Besides the intended applications in photonics, we believe there is a high probability that the results will be applicable in other fields, including clean energy production, biomedicine, environmental protection, homeland security, process industry, etc. It is our opinion that the proposed research can be beneficial for the advancement of Austrian science, for the regional and European research area. To this purpose we intend to keep our results open to the scientific community (IPR) as a whole.