Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5

Leonard, Francois; Yu, Wenlong; Collins, Kimberlee C.; Medlin, Douglas L.; Sugar, Joshua D.; Talin, A. Alec; Pan, Wei

doi:10.1021/acsami.7b11056

Title: Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe₅

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Abstract

The family of three-dimensional topological insulators opens new avenues to discover novel photophysics and to develop novel types of photodetectors. ZrTe₅ has been shown to be a Dirac semimetal possessing unique topological, electronic, and optical properties. Here, we present spatially resolved photocurrent measurements on devices made of nanoplatelets of ZrTe₅, demonstrating the photothermoelectric origin of the photoresponse. Because of the high electrical conductivity and good Seebeck coefficient, we obtain noise-equivalent powers as low as 42 pW/Hz^1/2, at room temperature for visible light illumination, at zero bias. We also show that these devices suffer from significant ambient reactivity, such as the formation of a Te-rich surface region driven by Zr oxidation as well as severe reactions with the metal contacts. This reactivity results in significant stresses in the devices, leading to unusual geometries that are useful for gaining insight into the photocurrent mechanisms. Lastly, our results indicate that both the large photothermoelectric response and reactivity must be considered when designing or interpreting photocurrent measurements in these systems.

Authors:

^[1]; Yu, Wenlong ^[2]; Collins, Kimberlee C. ^[1]; Medlin, Douglas L. ^[1]; Sugar, Joshua D. ^[1];

^[1]; Pan, Wei ^[2]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Publication Date:: Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:: 1406373

Report Number(s):: SAND-2017-11576J
Journal ID: ISSN 1944-8244; 658160

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 9; Journal Issue: 42; Journal ID: ISSN 1944-8244

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Dirac semimetal; photocurrent; reactivity; thermoelectric; topological insulator

Citation Formats


                    Leonard, Francois, Yu, Wenlong, Collins, Kimberlee C., Medlin, Douglas L., Sugar, Joshua D., Talin, A. Alec, and Pan, Wei. Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5.  United States: N. p., 2017. 
Web.  doi:10.1021/acsami.7b11056.

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                    Leonard, Francois, Yu, Wenlong, Collins, Kimberlee C., Medlin, Douglas L., Sugar, Joshua D., Talin, A. Alec, & Pan, Wei. Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b11056

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                    Leonard, Francois, Yu, Wenlong, Collins, Kimberlee C., Medlin, Douglas L., Sugar, Joshua D., Talin, A. Alec, and Pan, Wei. Tue .  
"Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b11056.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1406373.

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@article{osti_1406373,

  title        = {Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5},

  author       = {Leonard, Francois and Yu, Wenlong and Collins, Kimberlee C. and Medlin, Douglas L. and Sugar, Joshua D. and Talin, A. Alec and Pan, Wei},

  abstractNote = {The family of three-dimensional topological insulators opens new avenues to discover novel photophysics and to develop novel types of photodetectors. ZrTe5 has been shown to be a Dirac semimetal possessing unique topological, electronic, and optical properties. Here, we present spatially resolved photocurrent measurements on devices made of nanoplatelets of ZrTe5, demonstrating the photothermoelectric origin of the photoresponse. Because of the high electrical conductivity and good Seebeck coefficient, we obtain noise-equivalent powers as low as 42 pW/Hz1/2, at room temperature for visible light illumination, at zero bias. We also show that these devices suffer from significant ambient reactivity, such as the formation of a Te-rich surface region driven by Zr oxidation as well as severe reactions with the metal contacts. This reactivity results in significant stresses in the devices, leading to unusual geometries that are useful for gaining insight into the photocurrent mechanisms. Lastly, our results indicate that both the large photothermoelectric response and reactivity must be considered when designing or interpreting photocurrent measurements in these systems.},

  doi          = {10.1021/acsami.7b11056},

  journal      = {ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces},

  number       = 42,

  volume       = 9,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2017},

  month        = {Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2017}

}

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Title: Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5

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Title: Strong Photothermoelectric Response and Contact Reactivity of the Dirac Semimetal ZrTe₅