Large-area flexible and transparent UV photodetector based on cross-linked Ag NW@ZnO NRs with high performance

Abstract

• The Ag nanowires were used as the template for the growth of ZnO nanorods. • The Ag NW@ZnO NRs with core-shell structure were synthesized by a simple two-step method. • The ultraviolet photodetector with a cross-linked Ag NW@ZnO NRs network shows high transparency and excellent flexibility. • The large-area Schottky contacts were formed between Ag NWs and ZnO NRs that were used to enhance the performances of the photodetector. A series of large-area, flexible and transparent ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs) based on Ag nanowire (NW)@ZnO nanorods (NRs) are fabricated by an inexpensive, facile and effective approach. These Ag NW@ZnO NRs are successfully synthesized using a two-step method in an oil bath with a high surface-to-volume ratio and good crystallinity. The PDs are fabricated by drop-coating with different drop-coating times on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) coupled with Au electrodes. By optimizing the cross-linked network of Ag NW@ZnO NRs, PD2 with a size greater than 25 mm exhibits excellent photoresponse under UV light illumination of 365 nm (1.3 mW cm - 2 ) with a bias of 5 V: a high sensitivity of over 10 3 , and a much shorter rise/decay time of 2.6 s/2.3 s. Simultaneously, the detector exhibits an average transmittance of more than 70% in the visible light region, as well as good flexibility and excellent mechanical stability under a bending angle of 120° over 1000 circles bending. These integral advantages have significant potential for practical applications and mass production.