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Sensitive solution-processed visible-wavelength photodetectors

Nature Photonics volume 1, pages 531–534 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

One billion image sensors worldwide render optical images as digital photographs in video cameras, still cameras and camera phones. These silicon-based sensors monolithically integrate photodetection with electronic readout. However, silicon photodiodes rely on a smaller bandgap than that required for visible detection; this degrades visible-wavelength sensitivity and produces unwanted infrared sensitivity. Thin-film top-surface visible photodetectors have therefore been investigated based on amorphous1, organic2 and colloidal quantum-dot3 semiconductors. However, none of these devices has exhibited visible sensitivity approaching that of silicon. Here we report a sensitive solution-processed photodetector that, across the entire visible spectrum, exhibits D* (normalized detectivity) greater than 5 × 1012 Jones (a unit of detectivity equivalent to cm Hz1/2 W−1). A photoconductive gain of >100 has been measured, facilitating high-fidelity electronic readout, and the linear dynamic range is greater than 60 dB, as required for high-contrast applications. These photodetectors are also compatible with flexible organic-based electronics.

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Figure 1: Absorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) graphs of small PbS nanocrystals.
Figure 2: Performance of the PbS small nanocrystal photodetector.
Figure 3: Effects of the trap states on photodetector performance.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Hoogland for assembling part of the experimental set-ups used and D. Holmyard for his help with transmission electron microscopy imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G4, Ontario, Canada

    Gerasimos Konstantatos, Jason Clifford, Larissa Levina & Edward H. Sargent

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  1. Gerasimos Konstantatos
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  2. Jason Clifford
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  3. Larissa Levina
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  4. Edward H. Sargent
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Correspondence to Edward H. Sargent.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Konstantatos, G., Clifford, J., Levina, L. et al. Sensitive solution-processed visible-wavelength photodetectors. Nature Photon 1, 531–534 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2007.147

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