Ambipolar Self-Driving Polarized Photodetection

Abstract

The polarized photodetectors based on the anisotropy of low-dimensional materials have drawn extensive attention; however, the polarities of the detected photocurrents are normally independent of the light polarization, and thus, the calibration on the incident power is necessary. Here, introducing the Dember effect modulated by the photonic mechanism, we propose a core–shell nanowire structure, which can identify the photocurrent polarities under various incident light polarizations and simultaneously operate in self-driving mode. Taking the Ag@CH3NH3PbI3@ITO core–shell nanowire as an example, we perform a strict optoelectronic simulation based on finite-element method. It shows that the ambipolar signals under transverse magnetic and electric (TM and TE) incidences can indeed be achieved, with the unbiased current densities of 24.9 and −10.4 mA/cm2, respectively (light wavelength: 500 nm). We further identify that the enhanced photodetection capability comes from the Dember effect together with the specific electric field distributions controlled by the whispering-gallery mode and plasmonic resonance under TE and TM incidences. The proposed architecture is expected to realize a more accurate and calibration-free polarized photodetection with a simplified system but a higher performance, multifunction capability, and integration capability with existing electronic systems.