Optical absorption sensing with dual-spectrum silicon LEDs in SOI-CMOS technology

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel silicon micro-LED based optical absorption sensor in SOI-CMOS technology capable of detecting pigment concentrations in solutions by switching between visible and near-infrared light modes, enabling low-cost biochemical sensing.

Contribution

It is the first experimental implementation of silicon micro-LEDs in SOI-CMOS for dual-spectrum optical absorption sensing of pigments in solutions.

Findings

Successfully measured pigment concentration with silicon micro-LEDs in both visible and NIR modes.

Achieved a maximum sensitivity of 1260 /cm /mol L for pigment detection.

Validated concentration measurements with commercial spectrophotometry.

Abstract

Silicon p-n junction diodes emit low-intensity, broad-spectrum light near 1120 nm in forward bias and between 400-900 nm in reverse bias (avalanche). For the first time, we experimentally achieve optical absorption sensing of pigment in solution with silicon micro LEDs designed in a standard silicon-on-insulator CMOS technology. By driving a single LED in both forward and avalanche modes of operation, we steer its electroluminescent spectrum between visible and near-infrared (NIR). We then characterize the vertical optical transmission of both visible and NIR light from the LED through the same micro-droplet specimen to a vertically mounted discrete silicon photodiode. The effective absorption coefficient of carmine solution in glycerol at varying concentrations were extracted from the color ratio in optical coupling. By computing the LED-specific molar absorption coefficient of carmine, we estimate the concentration (0.040 mo/L) and validate the same with a commercial spectrophotometer (0.030 mol/L ). With a maximum observed sensitivity of 1260 /cm /mol L, the sensor is a significant step forward towards low-cost CMOS-integrated optical sensors with silicon LED as the light source intended for biochemical analyses in food sector and plant/human health.