A linear-array of 300-GHz antenna integrated GFET detectors on a flexible substrate

Journal article, 2020

Terahertz imaging has potential in a variety of applications, such as non-invasive inspection, medical examination, and security. Many of these applications call for flexible focalplane arrays with large fields of view. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of a flexible, 300 GHz, 1 6 linear detector array based on graphene field-effect transistors and integrated bowtie antennas. Conservative estimates based on room temperature measurements at 300 GHz show element voltage responsivities in he range from 20 V/W to 70 V/W, and noise equivalent powers in the range from 0.06 nW/Hz0.5 to 0.2 nW/Hz0.5. Measured radiation patterns, showing good agreement with simulations, reveal half-power beamwidths of 45 and 60 for H- and E-planes, respectively. Characterization of the antenna array in a curved configuration shows that the voltage response is reduced up to 3 dB compared to the flat configuration due to a decrease of the antenna directivity. We believe that our preliminary results could serve as an enabling platform for the future development of flexible antenna arrays based on GFETs for curved focal plane imaging, important for wearable sensors and many other applications.