Piezo-phototronic and pyro-phototronic effects enhanced broadband photosensing

Abstract

The piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity of third-generation semiconductor materials (such as ZnO, GaN, and CdS) distinguish them from traditional semiconductors and give rise to two novel effects: the piezo-phototronic effect and the pyro-phototronic effect. The piezo-phototronic effect is to use the piezoelectric polarization charges at the heterointerface to tune the electron-hole separation or recombination in optoelectronic processes. For the pulsed incident light, local generated heating results in a strong pyroelectric effect, which gives a high output voltage and current. This is the pyro-phototronic effect. In this review, we give a systematic introduction to the two effects. Following that, recent advances in piezo-phototronic and pyro-phototronic effects enhanced broadband photosensing, including applications of the piezo-phototronic and pyro-phototronic effects in broadband photodetectors and their synergy effect, are thoroughly summarized. Finally, a perspective is given regarding their future impacts.