An amorphous silicon photodiode array for glass-based optical MEMS application

A highly sensitive photo-detector array deposited on a glass substrate with an optional integrated optical filter have been presented. The active element is a vertically integrated hydrogenated amorphous silicon photodiode featuring a dark current of less than 1e-10 A/cm2 for -3V polarization and a maximal quantum efficiency of 80% near 580 nm. The prototype was encapsulated and successfully tested optically. It has a fill factor of only 44% which, however, can be easily increased to 90% using flip-chip bonding to an integrated electronic circuit for signal conditioning. The sensor is bio-compatible and can be integrated with other glass-based and glass compatible micro-fabricated devices such as optical, micro-fluidic, lab-on-a-chip, chemical and biological devices in which photo-detection is a desired feature.