Boosting performances of ZnO microwire homojunction ultraviolet self-powered photodetector by coupled interfacial engineering and plasmonic effects

• Published in: Science China materials Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 842 - 851
• Main Authors: Tang, Kai, Sha, Shulin, Wan, Peng, Zhai, Yalin, Kan, Caixia, Shi, Daning, Jiang, Mingming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Science China Press 01-03-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antimony; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Communications systems; Homojunctions; Light; Magnesium oxide; Materials Science; Nanowires; Optical receivers; Photodiodes; Photometers; Photosensitivity; Power consumption; Quantum efficiency; Spatial resolution; Ultraviolet detectors; Ultraviolet radiation; Zinc oxide; self-powered photodetector; UV optical communication; p-type ZnO:Sb microwire; imaging sensor; interface engineering; plasmonic effect
• ISSN: 2095-8226; 2199-4501
• DOI: 10.1007/s40843-023-2751-0

A highly sensitive self-biased ultraviolet (UV) photodetector is largely desirable in practical applications. This work develops a one-dimensional ZnO homojunction photodiode, which includes an Sb-doped ZnO microwire with surface-covered by Ag nanowires (AgNWs@ZnO:Sb MW), a MgO buffer nanolayer, and a ZnO film. The photodiode is dramatically sensitive to UV light, with its photosensitive performances of a large on/off ratio of approximately 10
7
, a maximum responsivity of 292.2 mA W
−1
, a high specific detectivity of 6.9 × 10
13
Jones, and a rapid response speed in microseconds (16.4/465.1 µs) under 365-nm light illumination
via
10 µW cm
−2
at 0 V bias. In particular, the highest external quantum efficiency approaching 99.3% is achieved. The modulation of the MgO nanofilm and surface-modified AgNWs on the improved photoresponse was carefully examined. Acting as a self-biased optical receiver, this photodiode was further integrated into a UV communication system that can transmit information in real time. Also, a 9 × 9 photodetector array based on the AgNWs@p-ZnO:Sb MW/i-MgO/n-ZnO homojunction exhibited a uniform distribution of light response and could be used as a workable photosensory to achieve good spatial resolution images. This work proposes a promising route for the design of high-performance UV photodetectors for realistic applications with low power consumption and large-scale construction.