Weida Hu

Ultrasensitive and Broadband MoS2 Photodetector Driven by Ferroelectrics

A few-layer MoS2 photodetector driven by poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) ferroelectrics is achieved. The detectivity and responsitivity are up to 2.2 × 10(12) Jones and 2570 A W(-1), respectively, at 635 nm with ZERO gate bias. E(g) of MoS2 is tuned by the ultrahigh electrostatic field from the ferroelectric polarization. The photoresponse wavelengths of the photodetector are extended into the near-infrared (0.85-1.55 μm).

Surface Plasmon‐Enhanced Photodetection in Few Layer MoS2 Phototransistors with Au Nanostructure Arrays

2D Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) is a promising candidate material for high-speed and flexible optoelectronic devices, but only with low photoresponsivity. Here, a large enhancement of photocurrent response is obtained by coupling few-layer MoS2 with Au plasmonic nanostructure arrays. Au nanoparticles or nanoplates placed onto few-layer MoS2 surface can enhance the local optical field in the MoS2 layer, due to the localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance. After depositing 4 nm thick Au nanoparticles sparsely onto few-layer MoS2 phototransistors, a doubled increase in the photocurrent response is observed. The photocurrent of few-layer MoS2 phototransistors exhibits a threefold enhancement with periodic Au nanoarrays. The simulated optical field distribution confirms that light can be trapped and enhanced near the Au nanoplates. These findings offer an avenue for practical applications of high performance MoS2 -based optoelectronic devices or systems in the future.

Single InAs Nanowire Room-Temperature Near-Infrared Photodetectors

Here we report InAs nanowire (NW) near-infrared photodetectors having a detection wavelength up to ∼1.5 μm. The single InAs NW photodetectors displayed minimum hysteresis with a high Ion/Ioff ratio of 10(5). At room temperature, the Schottky-Ohmic contacted photodetectors had an external photoresponsivity of ∼5.3 × 10(3) AW(-1), which is ∼300% larger than that of Ohmic-Ohmic contacted detectors (∼1.9 × 10(3) AW(-1)). A large enhancement in photoresponsivity (∼300%) had also been achieved in metal Au-cluster-decorated InAs NW photodetectors due to the formation of Schottky junctions at the InAs/Au cluster contacts. The photocurrent decreased when the photodetectors were exposed to ambient atmosphere because of the high surface electron concentration and rich surface defect states in InAs NWs. A theoretical model based on charge transfer and energy band change is proposed to explain this observed performance. To suppress the negative effects of surface defect states and atmospheric molecules, new InAs NW photodetectors with a half-wrapped top-gate had been fabricated by using 10 nm HfO2 as the top-gate dielectric.

Interlayer Transition and Infrared Photodetection in Atomically Thin Type-II MoTe2/MoS2 van der Waals Heterostructures

We demonstrate the type-II staggered band alignment in MoTe2/MoS2 van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures and an interlayer optical transition at ∼1.55 μm. The photoinduced charge separation between the MoTe2/MoS2 vdW heterostructure is verified by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) under illumination, density function theory (DFT) simulations and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Photoelectrical measurements of MoTe2/MoS2 vdW heterostructures show a distinct photocurrent response in the infrared regime (1550 nm). The creation of type-II vdW heterostructures with strong interlayer coupling could improve our fundamental understanding of the essential physics behind vdW heterostructures and help the design of next-generation infrared optoelectronics.

The Study of Self-Heating and Hot-Electron Effects for AlGaN/GaN Double-Channel HEMTs

The direct current characteristics of AlGaN/GaN double-channel HEMTs (DC-HEMTs) are investigated by using 2-D numerical simulations. The output characteristics have been predicted with the drift-diffusion, thermodynamic, hydrodynamic, and hot-electron models, respectively. The prediction by the hydrodynamic model is in good agreement with the experiment. It is demonstrated that the hot-electron effect makes a negligible contribution to the negative differential conductance (NDC) of an AlGaN/GaN DC-HEMT; instead, the NDC effect is caused by the self-heating effect. The transfer and transconductance characteristics of an AlGaN/GaN DC-HEMT are also discussed in detail. Finally, a new In0.18Al0.82N /GaN/AlGaN/GaN DC-HEMT structure is proposed for optimizing AlGaN/GaN DC-HEMTs.

Solution-Processed Graphene Quantum Dot Deep-UV Photodetectors

Fast-response and high-sensitivity deep-ultraviolet (DUV) photodetectors with detection wavelength shorter than 320 nm are in high demand due to their potential applications in diverse fields. However, the fabrication processes of DUV detectors based on traditional semiconductor thin films are complicated and costly. Here we report a high-performance DUV photodetector based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) fabricated via a facile solution process. The devices are capable of detecting DUV light with wavelength as short as 254 nm. With the aid of an asymmetric electrode structure, the device performance could be significantly improved. An on/off ratio of ∼6000 under 254 nm illumination at a relatively weak light intensity of 42 μW cm(-2) is achieved. The devices also exhibit excellent stability and reproducibility with a fast response speed. Given the solution-processing capability of the devices and extraordinary properties of GQDs, the use of GQDs will open up unique opportunities for future high-performance, low-cost DUV photodetectors.

High‐Responsivity Graphene/InAs Nanowire Heterojunction Near‐Infrared Photodetectors with Distinct Photocurrent On/Off Ratios

Graphene is a promising candidate material for high-speed and ultra-broadband photodetectors. However, graphene-based photodetectors suffer from low photoreponsivity and I(light)/I(dark) ratios due to their negligible-gap nature and small optical absorption. Here, a new type of graphene/InAs nanowire (NW) vertically stacked heterojunction infrared photodetector is reported, with a large photoresponsivity of 0.5 AW(-1) and I(light)/I(dark) ratio of 5 × 10(2), while the photoresponsivity and I(light)/I(dark) ratio of graphene infrared photodetectors are 0.1 mAW(-1) and 1, respectively. The Fermi level (E(F)) of graphene can be widely tuned by the gate voltage owing to its 2D nature. As a result, the back-gated bias can modulate the Schottky barrier (SB) height at the interface between graphene and InAs NWs. Simulations further demonstrate the rectification behavior of graphene/InAs NW heterojunctions and the tunable SB controls charge transport across the vertically stacked heterostructure. The results address key challenges for graphene-based infrared detectors, and are promising for the development of graphene electronic and optoelectronic applications.

Anomalous and Highly Efficient InAs Nanowire Phototransistors Based on Majority Carrier Transport at Room Temperature

Core/shell-like n-type InAs nanowire phototransistors based on majority-carrier-dominated photodetection are investigated. Under optical illumination, electrons generated from the core are excited into the self-assembled near-surface photogating layer, forming a built-in electric field to significantly regulate the core conductance. Anomalous high photoconductive gain and fast response time are obtained at room temperature.

High responsivity phototransistors based on few-layer ReS2 for weak signal detection

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides are emerging with tremendous potential in many optoelectronic applications due to their strong light-matter interactions. To fully explore their potential in photoconductive detectors, high responsivity and weak signal detection are required. Here, we present high responsivity phototransistors based on few-layer rhenium disulfide (ReS2). Depending on the back gate voltage, source drain bias and incident optical light intensity, the maximum attainable photoresponsivity can reach as high as 88,600 A W-1, which is a record value compared to other two-dimensional materials with similar device structures and two orders of magnitude higher than that of monolayer MoS2. Such high photoresponsivity is attributed to the increased light absorption as well as the gain enhancement due to the existence of trap states in the few-layer ReS2 flakes. It further enables the detection of weak signals, as successfully demonstrated with weak light sources including a lighter and limited fluorescent lighting. Our studies underscore ReS2 as a promising material for future sensitive optoelectronic applications.

Broadband Photovoltaic Detectors Based on an Atomically Thin Heterostructure

van der Waals junctions of two-dimensional materials with an atomically sharp interface open up unprecedented opportunities to design and study functional heterostructures. Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides have shown tremendous potential for future applications due to their unique electronic properties and strong light-matter interaction. However, many important optoelectronic applications, such as broadband photodetection, are severely hindered by their limited spectral range and reduced light absorption. Here, we present a p-g-n heterostructure formed by sandwiching graphene with a gapless band structure and wide absorption spectrum in an atomically thin p-n junction to overcome these major limitations. We have successfully demonstrated a MoS2-graphene-WSe2 heterostructure for broadband photodetection in the visible to short-wavelength infrared range at room temperature that exhibits competitive device performance, including a specific detectivity of up to 10(11) Jones in the near-infrared region. Our results pave the way toward the implementation of atomically thin heterostructures for broadband and sensitive optoelectronic applications.