High-performing visible-blind photodetectors based on SnO{sub 2}/CuO nanoheterojunctions

Journal Article · Mon Dec 14 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4938129· OSTI ID:22486224

Xie, Ting ^[1]; Hasan, Md Rezaul ^[1]; Qiu, Botong; Arinze, Ebuka S.; Nguyen, Nhan V. ^[2]; Motayed, Abhishek; Debnath, Ratan ^[1]

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1. Materials Science and Engineering Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 (United States)
2. Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 (United States)

We report on the significant performance enhancement of SnO{sub 2} thin film ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs) through incorporation of CuO/SnO{sub 2} p-n nanoscale heterojunctions. The nanoheterojunctions are self-assembled by sputtering Cu clusters that oxidize in ambient to form CuO. We attribute the performance improvements to enhanced UV absorption, demonstrated both experimentally and using optical simulations, and electron transfer facilitated by the nanoheterojunctions. The peak responsivity of the PDs at a bias of 0.2 V improved from 1.9 A/W in a SnO{sub 2}-only device to 10.3 A/W after CuO deposition. The wavelength-dependent photocurrent-to-dark current ratio was estimated to be ∼592 for the CuO/SnO{sub 2} PD at 290 nm. The morphology, distribution of nanoparticles, and optical properties of the CuO/SnO{sub 2} heterostructured thin films are also investigated.

• OSTI ID: 22486224
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 107, Issue 24; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
COPPER OXIDES
CURRENTS
DEPOSITION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRON TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
HETEROJUNCTIONS
MORPHOLOGY
NANOPARTICLES
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PERFORMANCE
PHOTODETECTORS
SIMULATION
SPUTTERING
THIN FILMS
TIN OXIDES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WAVELENGTHS