TY - JOUR A2 - Kayed, Rakez AU - Israelowitz, M. AU - Weyand, B. AU - Leiterer, C. AU - Munoz, V. AU - Martinez-Tomas, C. AU - Herraiz-Llacer, M. AU - Slowik, I. AU - Beleites, C. AU - Fritzsche, W. AU - Krafft, C. AU - Henkel, T. AU - Reuter, M. AU - Rizvi, S. W. H. AU - Gille, C. AU - Reimers, K. AU - Vogt, P. M. AU - von Schroeder, H. P. PY - 2014 DA - 2014/06/26 TI - Biomimetic-Inspired Infrared Sensors from Microwires: Study of Their Photoconductivity and Infrared Spectrum Properties SP - 524042 VL - 2014 AB - The fire beetle, Melanophila acuminata (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), senses infrared radiation at wavelengths of 3 and 10–25 microns via specialized protein-containing sensilla. Although the protein denatures outside of a biological system, this detection mechanism has inspired our bottom-up approach to produce single zinc phosphide microwires via vapour transport for IR sensing. The Zn3P2 microwires were immobilized and electrical contact was made by dielectrophoresis. Photoconductivity measurements have been extended to the near IR range, spanning the Zn3P2 band gaps. Purity and integrity of the Zn3P2 microwires including infrared light scattering properties were confirmed by infrared transmission microscopy. This biomimetic microwire shows promise for infrared chip development. SN - 2356-7740 UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/524042 DO - 10.1155/2014/524042 JF - New Journal of Science PB - Hindawi Publishing Corporation KW - ER -