Enhancement of the performance of a ZnO-based nanostructured flexible UV photodiode grown on the carbon clothe by piezo-phototronic effect

Abstract

The current study aims to evaluate the piezo-phototronic effect on the performance of the prepared ZnO-based UV Photodiodes (PDs). To this end, the electrochemical method was employed to facilitate the growth of ZnO Nanowires (NWs) on the Carbon Clothe (CC) substrate. The results obtained from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses demonstrated well-grown ZnO NWs arrays with high coverage density and crystal quality on the substrate. The current-voltage (I–V) measurement was employed in the UV illumination and dark conditions to determine the photo-responsivity and detectivity of the prepared device to the UV light. In addition, the photocurrent and overall device performances were modified under UV illumination and applying compressive strain, given its role in increasing the barrier height. As a result, more photo-generated charge carriers can migrate to the electrode without recombination in comparison with free strain conditions. This phenomenon is known as the piezo-phototronic effect. Further, the findings of this study revealed that CC could be an appropriate alternative to the fabricated flexible PDs instead of other expensive flexible substrates such as Indium Tin Oxide/Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate (ITO/PET).