Introduction

Long-wave infrared (LWIR) detectors, which operate within the 8–12 μm wavelength range, find extensive applications in night vision, space exploration, surveillance, thermal imaging, and defense-related scenarios. Nevertheless, achieving LWIR detection at room temperature presents a formidable challenge due to the inherently low photon energy and the presence of significant background noise. Consequently, the utilization of cryogenic cooling becomes a necessity to attain optimal detectivity for sensitive LWIR detectors. There is a burgeoning demand for the development of efficient room-temperature LWIR detectors, primarily due to their affordability and ease of operation. However, uncooled microbolometers suffer from issues like reduced sensitivity (D* ~108) and slow response times in the order of tens of milliseconds. As a result, it is crucial to explore new materials and techniques that enable the creation of LWIR detectors operating at room temperature while maintaining exceptional detectivity, achieving fast response times.