Investigation on Pyroelectric Infrared Detectors

Pyroelectric material can bring polarization with the variable temperature caused by infrared radiation. It will generate electric signals in relation to the ratio of temperature variation when it is connected in the circuit. By using pyroelectric effect, a pyroelectric infrared detector can detect infrared radiant energy. Pyroelectric materials can be classified into bulk materials and thin-films in the view of shape, and the latter ones have the features of smaller bulk specific heat, higher sensitivity, lower cost and easier integration. So the preparation, characteristics and application of pyroelectric materials have become a research trend. At present, practical research achievements such as radiometers, audiometers, thermoscopes and so on have been obtained. The promising pyroelectric infrared detectors will be applied in more fields with the further research being carried out.