Fully-Funded PhD: Development of Infra-Red Thin Film Optoelectronic Devices

Optoelectronic devices, like thermal imaging cameras and night-vision sensors, require clear optical “windows” that allow infrared light to pass through while strictly blocking environmental oxygen and moisture, which degrade the sensitive internal components. Currently, the most effective moisture barriers use polymer materials, but these block infrared light. This project aims to solve this by creating a new type of multilayer filter, combining polymer layers with thin films of metals and ceramics, that will successfully block gases without sacrificing infrared transmission, directly benefiting the next generation of devices.

This project will appeal to a materials scientist/engineer who is excited by materials discovery, but also enthusiastic to see how their research can be translated into real-world devices. The work will take place in the Surface Engineering Laboratory in the Dalton Building at Manchester Met and at the premises of our industrial partner, Brinell Vision Ltd in Irlam, Manchester, giving the successful candidate experience of working in both academic and industrial facilities.

You will be supported by an experienced multidisciplinary supervisory team with access to state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with production, characterisation and testing facilities. You will also join Manchester Met’s Doctoral College community, benefiting from specialist training, collaboration opportunities, and professional development.

Aims and objectives 

There is a critical gap in the production of ultra-barrier encapsulation that maintains high optical transmission in the 1.5– 15 µm regime, a range vital for thermal imaging and night-vision technologies.  Consequently, the objective of this project is to address this requirement for broad-spectrum, highly transmissive interference coatings that double as hermetic gas barriers (O₂ and H₂O) for active optoelectronic elements operating in this range.

The specific aims are to develop Ge/GeOxNy multilayer structures, produced by magnetron sputtering, with the required optical properties and, by incorporating novel polymer layers, demonstrate that they exhibit the required durability for demanding applications and, furthermore, demonstrate that these structures can form the basis for new generations of optoelectronic devices.