Preparation of Ga_2O_3 thin film solar-blind photodetectors based on mixed-phase structure by pulsed laser deposition

Gallium oxide(Ga_2O_3) thin films were deposited on a-Al2O3(1120) substrates by pulsed laser deposition(PLD) with different oxygen pressures at 650?C. By reducing the oxygen pressure, mixed-phase Ga_2O_3 films with α and β phases can be obtained, and on the basis of this, mixed-phase Ga_2O_3 thin film solar-blind photodetectors(SBPDs) were prepared.Comparing the responsivities of the mixed-phase Ga_2O_3 SBPDs and the single β-Ga_2O_3 SBPDs at a bias voltage of 25 V,it is found that the former has a maximum responsivity of approximately 12 A/W, which is approximately two orders of magnitude larger than that of the latter. This result shows that the mixed-phase structure of Ga_2O_3 thin films can be used to prepare high-responsivity SBPDs. Moreover, the cause of this phenomenon was investigated, which will provide a feasible way to improve the responsivity of Ga_2O_3 thin film SBPDs.

Recent advances in Ga-based solar-blind photodetectors

Solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors have many advantages, such as low false alarm rates, the ability to detect weak signals, and high signal-to-noise ratios. Among the various functional solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors, Ga-based alloys of AlGaN and Ga_2O_3 are the most commonly adopted channel semiconductor materials and have attracted extensive research attention in the past decades. This review presents an overview of the recent progress in Ga-based solar-blind photodetectors. In case of AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors, the response properties can be improved by optimizing the AlN nucleation layer and designing the avalanche structure. On the other hand, we also discuss the morphology and growth methods of Ga_2O_3 nanomaterials and their effect on the performance of the corresponding solarblind photodetectors. The mechanically exfoliated Ga_2O_3 flakes show good potential for ultraviolet detection. Also, Ga_2O_3 nanoflowers and nanowires reveal perfect response to ultraviolet light. Finally, the challenges and future development of Ga-based functional solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors are summarized.

Three-dimensional porous In_(2)O_(3) arrays for self-powered transparent solar-blind photodetectors with high responsivity and excellent spectral selectivity

Transparent solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors(SBUV PDs)have extensive applications in versatile scenarios,such as optical communication.However,it is still challenging to simultaneously achieve high responsivity,high transparency,and satisfying self-powered capability.Here,we demonstrated high-performance,transparent,and self-powered photoelectrochemical-type(PEC)SBUV PDs based on vertically grown ultrathin In_(2)O_(3) nanosheet arrays(NAs)with a three-dimensional(3D)porous structure.The 3D porous structure simultaneously improves the transmittance in the visible light region,accelerates interfacial reaction kinetics,and promotes photogenerated carrier transport.The performance of In_(2)O_(3) NAs photoanodes exceeds most reported self-powered PEC SBUV PDs,exhibiting a high transmittance of approximately 80%in the visible light region,a high responsivity of 86.15 mA/W for 254 nm light irradiation,a fast response speed of 15/18 ms,and good multicycle stability.The In_(2)O_(3) NAs also show excellent spectral selectivity with an ultrahigh solar-blind rejection ratio of 1319.30,attributed to the quantum confinement effect induced by the ultrathin feature(2-3 nm).Furthermore,In_(2)O_(3) NAs photoanodes show good capability in underwater optical communication.Our work demonstrated that a 3D porous structure is a powerful strategy to synchronously achieve high responsivity and transparency and provides a new perspective for designing high-performance,transparent,and self-powered PEC SBUV PDs.

Performance study of vertical MSM solar-blind photodetectorsbased onβ-Ga_(2)O_(3)thin film

In this work,β-Ga_(2)O_(3)thin films were grown on SiO_(2)substrate by atomic layer deposition(ALD)and annealed in N_(2)atmosphere to enhance the crystallization quality of the thin films,which were verified from X-rays diffraction(XRD).Based on the grownβ-Ga_(2)O_(3)thin films,vertical metal-semiconductor-metal(MSM)interdigital photodetectors(PDs)were fabricated and investigated.The PDs have an ultralow dark current of 1.92 pA,ultra-high photo-to-dark current ratio(PDCR)of 1.7×10^(6),and ultra-high detectivity of 4.25×10^(14)Jones at a bias voltage of 10 V under 254 nm deep ultraviolet(DUV).Compared with the horizontal MSM PDs under the same process,the PDCR and detectivity of the fabricated vertical PDs are increased by 1000 times and 100 times,respectively.In addition,the vertical PDs possess a high responsivity of 34.24 A/W and an external quantum efficiency of 1.67×10^(4)%,and also exhibit robustness and repeatability,which indicate excellent performance.Then the effects of electrode size and external irradiation conditions on the performance of the vertical PDs continued to be investigated.

Nanowires mediated growth ofβ-Ga_(2)O_(3)nanobelts for hightemperature(>573 K)solar-blind photodetectors

β-Ga_(2)O_(3),with ultra-wide bandgap,high absorption coefficient for high-energy ultraviolet(UV)photons,and high structural stability toward harsh-environment,has been receiving persistent attention for deep ultraviolet photodetectors applications.However,realization of devices with high tolerance toward high temperature faces great challenges due to considerable background signals mainly arising from abundant thermal excited carrier.Herein,nanowire-mediated high-qualityβ-Ga_(2)O_(3)nanobelts with ultra-thin thickness and length up to several hundred micrometers were achieved via a simple catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition route.The resulted microdevice output superior optoelectric figure of merits among numerous reports aboutβ-Ga_(2)O_(3),i.e.,ultra-low dark current(below the detection limit of 10−12 A),high responsivity(1,320 A/W),and high spectral selectivity working under low voltage(~2 V).More importantly,the performance remains robust at elevated temperature higher than 573 K.These results indicate a large prospect for low-voltage driven deep ultraviolet photodetectors with good sensitivity and stability at harsh environments.

High responsivity photodetectors based on graphene/WSe_(2) heterostructure by photogating effect

Graphene, with its zero-bandgap electronic structure, is a highly promising ultra-broadband light absorbing material.However, the performance of graphene-based photodetectors is limited by weak absorption efficiency and rapid recombination of photoexcited carriers, leading to poor photodetection performance. Here, inspired by the photogating effect, we demonstrated a highly sensitive photodetector based on graphene/WSe_(2) vertical heterostructure where the WSe_(2) layer acts as both the light absorption layer and the localized grating layer. The graphene conductive channel is induced to produce more carriers by capacitive coupling. Due to the strong light absorption and high external quantum efficiency of multilayer WSe_(2), as well as the high carrier mobility of graphene, a high photocurrent is generated in the vertical heterostructure. As a result, the photodetector exhibits ultra-high responsivity of 3.85×10~4A/W and external quantum efficiency of 1.3 × 10~7%.This finding demonstrates that photogating structures can effectively enhance the sensitivity of graphene-based photodetectors and may have great potential applications in future optoelectronic devices.

Two-step growth of β-Ga_(2)O_(3) on c-plane sapphire using MOCVD for solar-blind photodetector

In this work,a two-step metal organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD)method was applied for growingβ-Ga_(2)O_(3) film on c-plane sapphire.Optimized buffer layer growth temperature(T_(B))was found at 700℃ and theβ-Ga_(2)O_(3) film with full width at half maximum(FWHM)of 0.66°was achieved.A metal−semiconductor−metal(MSM)solar-blind photodetector(PD)was fabricated based on theβ-Ga_(2)O_(3) film.Ultrahigh responsivity of 1422 A/W@254 nm and photo-to-dark current ratio(PDCR)of 10^(6) at 10 V bias were obtained.The detectivity of 2.5×10^(15) Jones proved that the photodetector has outstanding performance in detecting weak signals.Moreover,the photodetector exhibited superior wavelength selectivity with rejection ratio(R_(250 nm)/R_(400 nm))of 105.These results indicate that the two-step method is a promising approach for preparation of high-qualityβ-Ga_(2)O_(3)films for high-performance solar-blind photodetectors.

Metal–Organic Framework‑Based Photodetectors

The unique and interesting physical and chemical properties of metal–organic framework(MOF)materials have recently attracted extensive attention in a new generation of photoelectric applications.In this review,we summarized and discussed the research progress on MOF-based photodetectors.The methods of preparing MOF-based photodetectors and various types of MOF single crystals and thin film as well as MOF composites are introduced in details.Additionally,the photodetectors applications for X-ray,ultraviolet and infrared light,biological detectors,and circularly polarized light photodetectors are discussed.Furthermore,summaries and challenges are provided for this important research field.

Visible-to-near-infrared photodetectors based on SnS/SnSe_(2)and SnSe/SnSe_(2)p−n heterostructures with a fast response speed and high normalized detectivity

The emergent two-dimensional(2D)material,tin diselenide(SnSe_(2)),has garnered significant consideration for its potential in image capturing systems,optical communication,and optoelectronic memory.Nevertheless,SnSe_(2)-based photodetection faces obstacles,including slow response speed and low normalized detectivity.In this work,photodetectors based on SnS/SnSe_(2)and SnSe/SnSe_(2)p−n heterostructures have been implemented through a polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)−assisted transfer method.These photodetectors demonstrate broad-spectrum photoresponse within the 405 to 850 nm wavelength range.The photodetector based on the SnS/SnSe_(2)heterostructure exhibits a significant responsivity of 4.99×10^(3)A∙W^(−1),normalized detectivity of 5.80×10^(12)cm∙Hz^(1/2)∙W^(−1),and fast response time of 3.13 ms,respectively,owing to the built-in electric field.Meanwhile,the highest values of responsivity,normalized detectivity,and response time for the photodetector based on the SnSe/SnSe_(2)heterostructure are 5.91×10^(3)A∙W^(−1),7.03×10^(12)cm∙Hz^(1/2)∙W−1,and 4.74 ms,respectively.And their photodetection performances transcend those of photodetectors based on individual SnSe_(2),SnS,SnSe,and other commonly used 2D materials.Our work has demonstrated an effective strategy to improve the performance of SnSe_(2)-based photodetectors and paves the way for their future commercialization.

Lewis acid-doped transition metal dichalcogenides for ultraviolet–visible photodetectors

Ultraviolet photodetectors(UV PDs)are widely used in civilian,scientific,and military fields due to their high sensitivity and low false alarm rates.We present a temperature-dependent Lewis acid p-type doping method for transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),which can effectively be used to extend the optical response range.The p-type doping based on surface charge transfer involves the chemical adsorption of the Lewis acid SnCl_(4)as a light absorption layer on the surface of WS_(2),significantly enhancing its UV photodetection performance.Under 365 nm laser irradiation,WS_(2)PDs exhibit response speed of 24 ms/20 ms,responsivity of 660 mA/W,detectivity of 3.3×10^(11)Jones,and external quantum efficiency of 226%.Moreover,we successfully apply this doping method to other TMDs materials(such as MoS_(2),MoSe_(2),and WSe_(2))and fabricate WS_(2) lateral p–n heterojunction PDs.

Highly Sensitive Photodetectors Based on WS_(2) Quantum Dots/GaAs Heterostructures

The performance of the photodetector is significantly impacted by the inherent surface faults in GaAs nanowires(NWs).We combined three-dimensional(3D)gallium arsenide nanowires with zero-dimensional(0D)WS_(2) quantum dot(QDs)materials in a simple and convenient way to form a heterogeneous structure.Various performance enhancements have been realized through the formation of typeⅡenergy bands in heterostructures,opening up new research directions for the future development of photodetector devices.This work successfully fabricated a high-sensitivity photodetector based on WS_(2)QDs/GaAs NWs heterostructure.Under 660 nm laser excitation,the photodetector exhibits a responsivity of 368.07 A/W,a detectivity of 2.7×10^(12)Jones,an external quantum efficiency of 6.47×10^(2)%,a low-noise equivalent power of 2.27×10^(-17)W·Hz^(-1/2),a response time of 0.3 s,and a recovery time of 2.12 s.This study provides a new solution for the preparation of high-performance GaAs detectors and promotes the development of optoelectronic devices for GaAs NWs.

Unraveling the efficiency losses and improving methods in quantum dot-based infrared up-conversion photodetectors

Quantum dot-based up-conversion photodetector,in which an infrared photodiode(PD)and a quantum dot light-emitting diode(QLED)are back-to-back connected,is a promising candidate for low-cost infrared imaging.However,the huge efficiency losses caused by integrating the PD and QLED together hasn’t been studied sufficiently.This work revealed at least three origins for the efficiency losses.First,the PD unit and QLED unit usually didn’t work under optimal conditions at the same time.Second,the potential barriers and traps at the interconnection between PD and QLED units induced unfavorable carrier recombination.Third,much emitted visible light was lost due to the strong visible absorption in the PD unit.Based on the understandings on the loss mechanisms,the infrared up-conversion photodetectors were optimized and achieved a breakthrough photon-to-photon conversion efficiency of 6.9%.This study provided valuable guidance on how to optimize the way of integration for up-conversion photodetectors.

High performance solar-blind deep ultraviolet photodetectors viaβ-phase(In_(0.09)Ga_(0.91))_(2)O_(3)single crystalline film

We successfully fabricate a high performanceβ-phase(In_(0.09)Ga_(0.91))_(2)O_(3)single-crystalline film deep ultraviolet(DUV)solar-blind photodetector.The 2-inches high crystalline quality film is hetero-grown on the sapphire substrates using the plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy(PA-MBE).The smooth InGaO single crystalline film is used to construct the solar-blind DUV detector,which utilized an interdigitated Ti/Au electrode with a metal-semiconductor-metal structure.The device exhibits a low dark current of 40 pA(0 V),while its UV photon responsivity exceeds 450 A/W(50 V)at the peak wavelength of 232 nm with illumination intensity of 0.21 m W/cm^(2)and the UV/VIS rejection ratio(R232 nm/R380 nm)exceeds 4×10^(4).Furthermore,the devices demonstrate ultrafast transient characteristics for DUV signals,with fast-rising and fast-falling times of 80 ns and 420 ns,respectively.This excellent temporal dynamic behavior can be attributed to indium doping can adjust the electronic structure of Ga_(2)O_(3)alloys to enhance the performance of InGaO solar-blind detectors.Additionally,a two-dimensional DUV scanning image is captured using the InGaO photodetector as a sensor in an imaging system.Our results pave the way for future applications of two-dimensional array DUV photodetectors based on the large-scale InGaO heteroepitaxially grown alloy wide bandgap semiconductor films.

High-performance flexible perovskite photodetectors based on single-crystal-like two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper thin films

Two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper(2DRP)perovskites have attracted intense research interest for optoelectronic applications,due to their tunable optoelectronic properties and better environmental stability than their threedimensional counterparts.Furthermore,high-performance photodetectors based on single-crystal and polycrystalline thin-films 2DRP perovskites have shown great potential for practical application.However,the complex growth process of single-crystal membranes and uncontrollable phase distribution of polycrystalline films hinder the further development of 2DRP perovskites photodetectors.Herein,we report a series of high-performance photodetectors based on single-crystal-like phase-pure 2DRP perovskite films by designing a novel spacer source.Experimental and theoretical evidence demonstrates that phase-pure films substantially suppress defect states and ion migration.These highly sensitive photodetectors show I_(light)/I_(dark) ratio exceeding 3×10^(4),responsivities exceeding 16 A/W,and detectivities exceeding 3×10^(13) Jones,which are higher at least by 1 order than those of traditional mixed-phase thinfilms 2DRP devices(close to the reported single-crystal devices).More importantly,this strategy can significantly enhance the operational stability of optoelectronic devices and pave the way to large-area flexible productions.

Solvent-free fabrication of broadband WS2 photodetectors on paper

Paper-based devices have attracted extensive attention due to the growing demand for disposable flexible electronics.Herein,we integrate semiconducting devices on cellulose paper substrate through a simple abrasion technique that yields high-performance photodetectors.A solvent-free WS_(2) film deposited on paper favors an effective electron-hole separation and hampers recombination.The as-prepared paper-based WS2 photodetectors exhibit a sensitive photoresponse over a wide spectral range spanning from ultraviolet(365 nm)to near-infrared(940 nm).Their responsivity value reaches up to~270 mA W^(−1) at 35 V under a power density of 35 mW cm^(−2).A high performance photodetector was achieved by controlling the environmental exposure as the ambient oxygen molecules were found to decrease the photoresponse and stability of the WS_(2) photodetector.Furthermore,we have built a spectrometer using such a paperbased WS_(2) device as the photodetecting component to illustrate its potential application.The present work could promote the development of cost-effective disposable photodetection devices.

ZnO nanowires based degradable high-performance photodetectors for eco-friendly green electronics

Disposable devices designed for single and/or multiple reliable measurements over a short duration have attracted considerable interest recently. However, these devices often use non-recyclable and non-biodegradable materials and wasteful fabrication methods. Herein, we present ZnO nanowires(NWs) based degradable high-performance UV photodetectors(PDs) on flexible chitosan substrate. Systematic investigations reveal the presented device exhibits excellent photo response, including high responsivity(55 A/W), superior specific detectivity(4×10^(14) jones), and the highest gain(8.5×10~(10)) among the reported state of the art biodegradable PDs. Further, the presented PDs display excellent mechanical flexibility under wide range of bending conditions and thermal stability in the measured temperature range(5–50 ℃).The biodegradability studies performed on the device, in both deionized(DI) water(pH≈6) and PBS solution(pH=7.4),show fast degradability in DI water(20 mins) as compared to PBS(48 h). These results show the potential the presented approach holds for green and cost-effective fabrication of wearable, and disposable sensing systems with reduced adverse environmental impact.

Self-healing wearable self-powered deep ultraviolet photodetectors based on Ga_(2)O_(3)

Gallium oxide(Ga_(2)O_(3))based flexible heterojunction type deep ultraviolet(UV)photodetectors show excellent solar-blind photoelectric performance,even when not powered,which makes them ideal for use in intelligent wearable devices.How-ever,traditional flexible photodetectors are prone to damage during use due to poor toughness,which reduces the service life of these devices.Self-healing hydrogels have been demonstrated to have the ability to repair damage and their combination with Ga_(2)O_(3) could potentially improve the lifetime of the flexible photodetectors while maintaining their performance.Herein,a novel self-healing and self-powered flexible photodetector has been constructed onto the hydrogel substrate,which exhibits an excellent responsivity of 0.24 mA/W under 254 nm UV light at zero bias due to the built-in electric field originating from the PEDOT:PSS/Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunction.The self-healing of the Ga_(2)O_(3) based photodetector was enabled by the reversible property of the synthesis of agarose and polyvinyl alcohol double network,which allows the photodetector to recover its original configu-ration and function after damage.After self-healing,the photocurrent of the photodetector decreases from 1.23 to 1.21μA,while the dark current rises from 0.95 to 0.97μA,with a barely unchanged of photoresponse speed.Such a remarkable recov-ery capability and the photodetector’s superior photoelectric performance not only significantly enhance a device lifespan but also present new possibilities to develop wearable and intelligent electronics in the future.

Multifunctional Perovskite Photodetectors: From Molecular-Scale Crystal Structure Design to Micro/Nano-scale Morphology Manipulation

Multifunctional photodetectors boost the development of traditional optical communication technology and emerging artificial intelligence fields, such as robotics and autonomous driving. However, the current implementation of multifunctional detectors is based on the physical combination of optical lenses, gratings, and multiple photodetectors, the large size and its complex structure hinder the miniaturization, lightweight, and integration of devices. In contrast, perovskite materials have achieved remarkable progress in the field of multifunctional photodetectors due to their diverse crystal structures, simple morphology manipulation, and excellent optoelectronic properties. In this review, we first overview the crystal structures and morphology manipulation techniques of perovskite materials and then summarize the working mechanism and performance parameters of multifunctional photodetectors. Furthermore, the fabrication strategies of multifunctional perovskite photodetectors and their advancements are highlighted, including polarized light detection, spectral detection, angle-sensing detection, and selfpowered detection. Finally, the existing problems of multifunctional detectors and the perspectives of their future development are presented.

Enhanced photoresponse performance in Ga/Ga_2O_3 nanocomposite solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors

In the present work, we explore the solar-blind ultraviolet（UV） photodetectors（PDs） with enhanced photoresponse,fabricated on Ga/Ga2O3 nanocomposite films. Through pre-burying metal Ga layers and thermally post-annealing the laminated Ga2 O3/Ga/Ga2O3 structures, Ga/Ga2O3 nanocomposite films incorporated with Ga nanospheres are obtained. For the prototype PD, it is found that the photocurrent and photoresponsivity will first increase and then decrease monotonically with the thickness of the pre-buried Ga layer increasing. Each of all PDs shows a spectrum response peak at 260 nm, demonstrating the ability to detect solar-blind UV light. Adjustable photoresponse enhancement factors are achieved by means of the surface plasmon in the nanocomposite films. The PD with a 20 nm thick Ga interlayer exhibits the best solar-blind UV photoresponse characteristics with an extremely low dark current of 8.52 p A at 10-V bias, a very high light-to-dark ratio of ～ 8 × 10~5, a large photoresponsivity of 2.85 A/W at 15-V bias, and a maximum enhancement factor of ～ 220. Our research provides a simple and practical route to high performance solar-blind UV PDs and potential applications in the field of optoelectronics.

Multilayered PdTe_(2)/thin Si heterostructures as self-powered flexible photodetectors with heart rate monitoring ability

Two-dimensional layered material/semiconductor heterostructures have emerged as a category of fascinating architectures for developing highly efficient and low-cost photodetection devices.Herein,we present the construction of a highly efficient flexible light detector operating in the visible-near infrared wavelength regime by integrating a PdTe2 multilayer on a thin Si film.A representative device achieves a good photoresponse performance at zero bias including a sizeable current on/off ratio exceeding 105,a decent responsivity of~343 mA/W,a respectable specific detectivity of~2.56×10^(12)Jones,and a rapid response time of 4.5/379μs,under 730 nm light irradiation.The detector also displays an outstanding long-term air stability and operational durability.In addition,thanks to the excellent flexibility,the device can retain its prominent photodetection performance at various bending radii of curvature and upon hundreds of bending tests.Furthermore,the large responsivity and rapid response speed endow the photodetector with the ability to accurately probe heart rate,suggesting a possible application in the area of flexible and wearable health monitoring.