Gas-mediated liquid metal printing toward large-scale 2D semiconductors and ultraviolet photodetector

Qian Li,Ju Lin,Wen-Hao Yao,Jing Liu,Tian-Ying Liu,Xi-Yu Zhu

doi:10.1038/s41699-021-00219-y

Abstract

A gas-mediated fabrication of centimeter-scale two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors and ultraviolet photodetector by a liquid metal-based printing was reported. Various large-scale 2D materials (Ga2O3, In2O3, SnO) were demonstrated to be directly printed at ambient air on different substrates. Such printing represents a generic, fast, clean, and scalable technique to quickly manufacture 2D semiconductors. The electrical properties were explored to quantify the printed 2D films, which were somewhat deficient in previous studies. In particular, to explore and facilitate the advantages of this 2D semiconductor in functional electronic applications, strategies for realizing fully printed Ga2O3/Si heterojunction photodetector via low-temperature and low-cost processes were developed. The device exhibits excellent sensibility and rapid photoresponse times. This work offers feasible way to develop high-performance ultraviolet photodetector for mass production. It also suggests a promising direction for making large-scale 2D photoelectronic and electronic systems and is expected to be extensively useful in the coming time.

Highlights

Two-dimensional semiconductors with good vectors mobility as well as excellent mechanical features are ideal materials for modern generation electronics, especially for flexible electronics, extensive area, and optoelectronics
Printing process of 2D semiconductor films Ga2O3: A self-restricting atomically slim gallium oxide shell creates on the surface of gallium drops as they experienced exposure to atmospheric air
The SiO2/Si substrate with gallium droplets on the surface is placed on a hotplate, the complete printing procedure was performed on the hotplate with temperature adjusted at 200 °C

Summary

Introduction

Two-dimensional semiconductors with good vectors mobility as well as excellent mechanical features are ideal materials for modern generation electronics, especially for flexible electronics, extensive area, and optoelectronics. The advantages as offered may make the two-dimensional semiconductor produced as preferred material in printing various flexible optoelectronic devices, which provides a very potential paradigm for future electronics, sensors, and more functional devices. Silver nanoparticle inks were obtained from Shanghai Mifang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. Printing process of 2D semiconductor films Ga2O3: A self-restricting atomically slim gallium oxide shell creates on the surface of gallium drops as they experienced exposure to atmospheric air. Gallium melts at 29.76 °C, a droplet of gallium collected utilizing a needle was located on a SiO2/Si substrate.

Results

Conclusion