SiOnyx Inc., maker of a patented material known as black silicon, will develop sensing technologies for detecting laser light in targeting systems under a new $3 million multiphase Department of Defense contract. The Harvard University spinout will create enhanced focal plane array designs for tactical imaging systems under the contract, awarded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Div. The award builds on support from ONR and the Night Vision Electronic Sensors Directorate to develop infrared-enhanced silicon detector designs, and the collaboration is expected to advance visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared camera technology. SiOnyx said its black silicon process dramatically enhances the sensitivity of silicon-based photonics and represents a significant breakthrough in the development of smaller, cheaper, high-performing photonic devices in applications ranging from simple light detection to advanced digital imaging, photovoltaics and other technologies. The company and Coherent announced last year that they were partnering to develop the material for solar applications (See: Coherent, SiOnyx Partner to Develop Black Silicon), and SiOnyx announced last month that it achieved an efficiency boost over industry-standard baseline solar cells (See SiOnyx: Laser Texturing Tweaks Solar Efficiency). For more information, visit: www.sionyx.com