Nanoplasmonic Semiconductor Light Detector — Device Design, Fabrication & Optimisation

Postgraduate Studentships; Birmingham; Remote; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Funding for PhD

Access to cleanroom & lab facilities

Job summary

Postgraduate Studentships invites applications for a PhD project titled Nanoplasmonic Semiconductor Light Detector — Device Design, Fabrication & Optimisation. The project seeks to create a photodetector using a nanoplasmonic-semiconductor composite, offering extended spectral sensitivity and ultrabroad bandwidth for fast photonic sensing.

You will optimise porosity, particle size, and plasmonic resonance, integrate contacts and low-noise readout electronics, and translate the process into a

Qualifications

• Physics/engineering background suitable for detector development.
• Interest in nanoplasmonics and photodetectors essential.
• Willingness to engage in experimental fabrication and modelling.

Responsibilities

• Design the detector stack: optical entrance window, absorber layer, carrier collection, readout.
• Pattern contacts and develop low-noise electronics.
• Characterise spectral response and temporal dynamics; map detector figures of merit.

Skills

Physics background

Detector/plasmonics interest

Education

PhD candidacy in Physics/EE/Materials

Tools

SEM/TEM

Optical spectroscopy

FPGA-based acquisition

Python

Job description

Nanoplasmonic Semiconductor Light Detector — Device Design, Fabrication & Optimisation

This PhD focuses on developing a working photodetector that uses a nanoplasmonic semiconductor composite as the active material. Unlike conventional detector s, these composites offer extended spectral sensitivity beyond the semiconductor bandgap, enhanced responsivity (A/W) through localised surface plasmon (LSP) field amplification, and ultrabroad bandwidth for high-speed operation.

The core fabrication route—nanoporous silicon scaffolds with embedded plasmonic nanoparticles via electroless/immersion plating)— established, but now requires optimisation for photodetection. You will engineer the composite to maximise responsivity, minimise noise, and enable fast, stable readout. This involves tuning porosity, particle size, and plasmonic resonance to match target wavelengths, while integrating electrical contacts and low-noise readout electronics.

Your challenge is to translate the known composite process into a complete detector architecture, including optical and electrical interfaces, packaging, and rigorous performance testing. The outcome will be a prototype device demonstrating the full potential of nanoplasmonic‑semiconductor technology for next‑generation photonic sensing.

Aims & Milestones

• Design the detector stack: optical entrance window, nanoplasmonic absorber layer, carrier collection/contact scheme, and low-noise readout.
• Tune fabrication for detection: control porosity, particle size/density, and plasmonic resonance to match target wavelengths, while integrating electrical contacts and low-noise readout electronics.
• Benchmark performance: responsivity (A/W), NEP, detectivity (D*), bandwidth, linearity, dark current, stability.
• Iterate & optimise: materials/process adjustments; thermal/optical modelling; reliability tests; device packaging.
• Demonstrate applications: fast imaging/sensing and SERS-assisted detection variants.

What You’ll Do

• Adapt the immersion‑plating np‑Si/Au process for device -grade uniformity.
• Pattern contacts and interconnects; develop low‑noise electronics/FPGA‑based acquisition (optional).
• Characterise spectral response and temporal dynamics (ultrafast pump–probe) and measure detector figures of merit.
• Model plasmon– semiconductor coupling and carrier transport; guide fabrication choices.
• Validate in lab demonstrators and prepare a prototype for user testing.

• Nanofabrication (cleanroom), porous silicon lab, SEM/TEM, optical spectroscopy, ultrafast lasers.
• Device testing: calibrated sources, lock-in techniques, bandwidth/linearity, noise measurements.
• Optional firmware/data: FPGA/SystemVerilog, Python signal processing.
• Collaborations with photonics/industry partners; pathways to commercialisation.

Impact

Deliver a new detector class leveraging plasmonic enhancement for cost‑effective, fast, and sensitive light measurement, with extended spectral response and broadband operation.

Candidate Profile

Physics/EE/Materials/Nanotechnology background; interest in detector s and plasmonics.

Funding

Competition-funded PhD project.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants and encourage applications from traditionally under‑represented groups in physics and astronomy, including women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.