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Graphene–MCN pn-junction for ultrafast flexible ultraviolet detector

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Abstract

We venture to design and fabricate thermosensitive flexible ultraviolet (UV) detector, and the response time of the MCN–graphene composite is decreased 7500 times, while the quantum efficiency of MCN is increased from 1 to 13.5%. Meanwhile, the noise level is 104 times lower than that of common GaN and ZnS UV sensors. Additionally, the shortcoming of low light absorption of graphene for use as a sensor is overcome, so that the light responsiveness reaches 0.5 WA. For the first time, a thermal sensor functions at the same level of performance as an flexible optoelectronic sensor.

Graphic abstract

We have constructed a gradient film composed of transition metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles and two-dimensional graphene. It is found that the gradient film is a pn junction. Due to the response of semiconductor nanoparticles to ultraviolet, further research shows that PN junction can be used as an ultraviolet detector, which overcomes the weakness of poor absorbance of graphene as a photodetector. At the same time, using the characteristics of graphene Dirac cone, A UV detector with very low noise is obtained.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Professor Zhen Feng and Dr. Chen AnS from XiDian University for testing and providing electrical performance data of the gradient thin film semiconductor pn junction. We are also grateful to Liwen Bianji (Edanz) (www.liwenbianji.cn) who edited the first draft of this manuscript. The staff who supported this research work also include: Bin Lian, Zhida Yang, Miaomiao Guo and Yujing Zhang (Dongguan Sanhang Innovation Institute). The work supported by 2019 Guangdong Special Funds (2019B090904007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710129, Shaanxi, China

    Xitong Wang, Lihong Su, Yuefei Li, Fengxia Yang, Ziao Zou, Mujia Tao, Ze Song & Yuyang Liu

  2. Dongguan Sanhang Innovation Institute, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong, China

    Xitong Wang, Lihong Su, Yuefei Li & Fengxia Yang

  3. School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, Shaanxi, China

    Bo Wang

  4. Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Advanced Energy Devices, Shaanxi Engineering Lab for Advanced Energy Technology, Institute for Advanced Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119, China

    Zhou Yang & Shengzhong Liu

  5. Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, i-ChEM, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China

    Shengzhong Liu

  6. University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Shengzhong Liu

Authors
  1. Xitong Wang
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  2. Lihong Su
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  3. Yuefei Li
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  4. Fengxia Yang
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  5. Ziao Zou
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  7. Ze Song
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  8. Yuyang Liu
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  9. Bo Wang
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  10. Zhou Yang
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  11. Shengzhong Liu
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Correspondence to Lihong Su or Shengzhong Liu.

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Wang, X., Su, L., Li, Y. et al. Graphene–MCN pn-junction for ultrafast flexible ultraviolet detector. MRS Communications 11, 862–867 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-021-00109-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-021-00109-w

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