An optical device for detecting a first chemical species and a second chemical species contained in a specimen, which includes: a first optical sensor, which may be optically coupled to an optical source through the specimen and is sensitive to radiation having a wavelength comprised in a first range of wavelengths; and a second optical sensor, which may be optically coupled to the optical source through the specimen and is sensitive to radiation having a wavelength comprised in a second range of wavelengths, different from the first range of wavelengths.

This light-receiving element includes: a substrate; a photoelectric conversion layer that is provided on the substrate and includes a first compound semiconductor, and absorbs a wavelength in an infrared region to generate electric charges; a semiconductor layer that is provided on the photoelectric conversion layer and includes a second compound semiconductor, and has an opening in a selective region; and an electrode that buries the opening of the semiconductor layer and is electrically coupled to the photoelectric conversion layer.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of forming a semiconductor device. A non-limiting example of the method includes forming a semiconductor material that includes a first type of majority carrier. A doping enhancement layer is formed over a region of the semiconductor material, wherein the doping enhancement layer includes a first type of material. A dopant is accelerated sufficiently to drive the dopant through the doping enhancement layer into the region of the semiconductor material. Accelerating the dopant through the doping enhancement layer also drives some of the first type of material from the doping enhancement layer into the region of the semiconductor material. The dopant within the region and the first type of material within the region contribute to the region having a second type of majority carrier.

A photodiode has an absorption layer and a cap layer operatively connected to the absorption layer. A pixel is formed in the cap layer and extends into the absorption layer to receive charge generated from photons therefrom. The pixel defines an annular diffused area to reduce dark current and capacitance. A photodetector includes the photodiode. The photodiode includes an array of pixels formed in the cap layer. At least one of the pixels extends into the absorption layer to receive charge generated from photons therefrom. At least one of the pixels defines an annular diffused area to reduce dark current and capacitance.

A photo-detecting device includes a first semiconductor layer with a first dopant, a light-absorbing layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor contact layer. The second semiconductor layer is located on the first semiconductor layer and has a first region and a second region, the light absorbing layer is located between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and has a third region and a fourth region, the semiconductor contact layer contacts the first region. The first region includes a second dopant and a third dopant, the second region includes second dopant, and the third region includes third dopant. The semiconductor contact layer has a first thickness greater than 50 ? and smaller than 1000 ?.

A semiconductor light-receiving element, includes: a semiconductor substrate; a high-concentration layer of a first conductivity type formed on the semiconductor substrate; a low-concentration layer of the first conductivity type formed on the high-concentration layer of the first conductivity type and in contact with the high-concentration layer of the first conductivity type; a low-concentration layer of a second conductivity type configured to form a PN junction interface together with the low-concentration layer of the first conductivity type; and a high-concentration layer of the second conductivity type formed on the low-concentration layer of the second conductivity type and in contact with the low-concentration layer of the second conductivity type. The low-concentration layers have a carrier concentration of less than 110.sup.16/cm.sup.3. The high-concentration layers have a carrier concentration of 110.sup.17/cm.sup.3 or more. At least one of the low-concentration layers includes an absorption layer with a band gap that absorbs incident light.

An optoelectronic device includes at least one pixel, each pixel comprising an optical resonator comprising a photodetecting structure confined between a reflective metal layer and a second reflective metal layer; and a readout integrated circuit arranged on a substrate and comprising at least one buried readout electrode dedicated to the pixel and at least one metal or dielectric outer layer. The assembly comprising at least the reflective metal layer and the outer layer of the readout integrated circuit is called a planar assembly structure. The first metal layer is connected to the readout electrode by way of a metal via passing through the optical resonator structure and the planar assembly structure. The metal via is electrically isolated from the photodetecting structure and from the planar assembly structure.

Systems and methods for thermal radiation detection utilizing a thermal radiation detection system are provided. The thermal radiation detection system includes one or more mercury-cadmium-telluride (HgCdTe)-based photodiode infrared detectors or Indium Arsenide (InAs)-based photodiode infrared detectors and a temperature sensing circuit. The temperature sensing circuit is configured to generate signals correlated to the temperatures of one or more of the plurality of infrared sensor elements. The thermal radiation detection system also includes a signal processing circuit.

Methods of hydrogen atom incorporation and of passivation of grain boundaries of polycrystalline semiconductors use a low temperature, pulsed plasma to incorporate hydrogen atoms into the grain boundaries of polycrystalline semiconductor materials in a controlled manner. A hydrogen-passivated polycrystalline IR detector has hydrogen atoms incorporated into grain boundaries of a polycrystalline Group III-V compound semiconductor detector element and a dark current density characteristic that is lower than the dark current density characteristic of a polycrystalline IR detector without the incorporated hydrogen atoms.

An optical device for detecting a first chemical species and a second chemical species contained in a specimen, which includes: a first optical sensor, which may be optically coupled to an optical source through the specimen and is sensitive to radiation having a wavelength comprised in a first range of wavelengths; and a second optical sensor, which may be optically coupled to the optical source through the specimen and is sensitive to radiation having a wavelength comprised in a second range of wavelengths, different from the first range of wavelengths.