Prof. Germano Maioli Penello receives favorable recommendation from CNPq
The Department of Physics of Materials and Mechanics congratulates Prof. Germano Maioli Penello, whose project received a favorable classification in the preliminary result of the CNPq/MCTI Call No. 44/2024 — Track A, intended for Emerging Groups (UNIVERSAL 2024).
The project, titled “Shedding Light on the Asymmetry in Quantum Bragg Mirror Detectors”, proposes technological advances in the area of infrared detectors, a device with strategic applications in sectors such as medicine, security, environmental monitoring, and meteorology. The proposal presents a pioneering approach by employing Quantum Bragg Mirror Detectors (QBMDs), a new class of photodetectors invented by Prof. Germano.
The main objectives of the project include:
- Exploring bound states in the continuum to optimize optical absorption efficiency and minimize dark current;
- Operating in photovoltaic mode, eliminating the need for external polarization and enabling the use in highly sensitive readout circuits;
- Expanding the spectral range of detection to cover the entire infrared spectrum, enabling multicolor detectors;
- Reducing the need for cryogenic cooling, allowing operation at higher temperatures;
In addition to promoting advances in nanostructured optoelectronics, the project strengthens the group’s leadership in studies of innovative detectors and contributes to the training of highly qualified human resources focused on technological research.
The Department celebrates the outstanding achievement of Prof. Germano Maioli Penello and wishes him success in carrying out this promising initiative.