RESPONSE OF NANOCOMPOSITE PYROELECTRIC DETECTORS

Four designs of pyroelectric detectors using lead titanate/vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene [PT/P(VDF-TrFE)] nanocomposite thin films w ith 0.12 volume fraction of PT as the sensing elements are presented. A one-dimensional heat diffusion equation for the multilayer structure has been solved and the current and voltage responsivities have been calculated using directly determined thermal data. Good agreements are obtained between the calculated and measured responsivities. The PT/P (VDF-TrFE) detector has higher voltage and current responsivities than the P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer detector for sensing elements of the same t hickness. Improvement in detector performance can be achieved by (1) e tching away the silicon substrate under the sensor element or (2) inco rporating a polyimide thermal buffer layer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.