Abstract: Disclosed are methods of fabricating short-wave infrared detector arrays including readout and absorption wafers connected by a recrystallized a-Si layer. The absorber wafer includes a SWIR conversion layer with a Ge1-xSnx alloy composition. Process steps realize the readout wafer and a portion of the absorption wafer, including bonding the readout wafer and a first portion of the absorption wafer. The a-Si intermediate layer linking the readout wafer and the first portion of the absorption wafer the a-Si intermediate layer is recrystallized by applying heat by a light source. The method assures a temperature profile between the light entrance surface and the CMOS electronic layer of the readout wafer maintaining readout layer temperature <350° C. during recrystallization. After the recrystallization process step the absorption wafer is completed by depositing the SWIR conversion layer. Also disclosed is a SWIR detector array realized by the method and SWIR detector array applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to short-wave infrared (SWIR) detector arrays, and methods for forming such arrays, comprising a light conversion layer (10) having a germanium-tin alloy composition. The shortwave infrared (SWIR) detector array comprises an absorber wafer (II) and a readout wafer (I). The absorber wafer (II) comprises a SWIR conversion layer (10) which has a Gei-xSnxalloy composition. The SWIR conversion layer (10) may have an internal structure comprising an array of rods (12) extending between a patterned support layer (40) and a doped silicon layer (10c). The detector comprises also a readout wafer (I) including an array of charge collecting areas and a readout electric circuit. The readout wafer (I) and the absorber wafer (II) are bonded by a low temperature bonding technique. The invention also relates to methods of fabrication of the SWIR detector array and to SWIR detector array applications such as a multi/hyperspectral LIDAR imaging systems.