An individual dressed in a military combat uniform controls a drone while in a desert location. — For highly specialized applications like military and space missions, there are extremely expensive Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) image sensors with SWIR wavelength sensitivity. However, the commercial applications of these InGaAs SWIR image sensors have been severely limited due to not only the poor pixel resolution of less than 1 megapixel but also the formidable price of more than $10,000. Dr. Do Young Kim is working to solve this issue.

OSU researcher to develop ultralow-cost SWIR sensor technology 

Friday, August 15, 2025

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405 744 2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu

Dr. Do Young Kim, associate professor of materials science and engineering for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, has received a subaward from Ghost Display Technologies LLC for a Department of Energy STTR Phase I grant to develop a groundbreaking shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor that could revolutionize imaging technologies across industries. 

The project, titled “Ultralow-Cost SWIR Sensor Using QD-based SWIR-to-Visible Up Conversion OLED,” aims to create a high-resolution, low-cost SWIR imaging sensor by leveraging innovative OLED-based up-conversion technology. This approach could dramatically reduce the cost of SWIR sensors from over $10,000 to under $500, while increasing resolution from under 1 megapixel to over 100 megapixels. 

“Ability to sense, absorb and work over a wide band of the light spectrum — across visible, near infrared (NIR) and SWIR, has many valuable applications,” Kim said. “Being able to sense light over a broad spectrum of light can increase the quality of images and our ability for night vision. For example, SWIR cameras offer considerable benefits in situations such as heavy rain, thick fog and heavy smoky fire because while these conditions typically blind human eyes as well as visible cameras, SWIR imaging technology is capable of seeing through all of the above severe conditions, providing highly accurate images.” 

Macro photo of detailed colorful OLED monitor screen. — Kim's OLED-based SWIR sensors can also be used for Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) applications for drones, cars, airplanes, etc.

Unlike traditional SWIR sensors that rely on expensive Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) materials, the proposed sensor uses a novel OLED-based structure to convert invisible SWIR light into visible light, allowing it to be captured by standard silicon-based image sensors. This innovation opens the door to integrating SWIR imaging into consumer electronics like smartphones, smart glasses and digital cameras. 

“In addition, our OLED-based SWIR sensors can also be used for Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) applications for drones, cars, airplanes, and so on,” Kim said. “While Si-based visible and NIR LiDAR is already commercialized, the visible/NIR LiDAR must use a limited laser intensity followed by Eye Safety (IEC 60825), due to strong eye sensitivity in the visible and NIR wavelengths, thus resulting in limited performance. On the other hand, the SWIR wavelength ranges are the eye-safe band and eye sensitivity is at least 100 times reduced in around 1.55 μm SWIR wavelengths. As a result, the high-power laser can be used for SWIR LiDAR to improve range and reliability.”  

This leads Kim’s OLED-based SWIR sensors to being safer and cheaper.  

The research builds on years of foundational work at OSU and has already led to the formation of a startup, Ghost Display Technologies LLC, in partnership with Cowboy Technologies. Located at OSU’s Helmerich Research Center in Tulsa, the company is focused on commercializing OLED-based infrared display and imaging systems. 

Since its founding in 2018, Ghost Display Technologies has secured over $1.1 million in research and development funding. The DOE STTR Phase I award will support the pre-investigation phase of the project, with the goal of developing a working prototype in a future Phase II. 

“This is a perfect example of how OSU research can lead to real-world innovation and economic impact,” said Dr. Hanchen Huang, dean of CEAT. “We’re proud to support technologies that not only push scientific boundaries but also create opportunities for commercialization and student involvement.” 