Abstract

From the past few decades, photodetectors (PDs) are being regarded as crucial components of many photonic devices which are being used in various important applications. However, the PDs based on the traditional bulk semiconductors still face a lot of challenges as far as the device performance is concerned. To overcome these limitations, a novel class of two-dimensional materials known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has shown great promise. The TMDCs-based PDs have been reported to exhibit competitive figures of merit to the state-of-the-art PDs, however, their production is still limited to laboratory scale due to limitations in the conventional fabrication methods. Compared to these traditional synthesis approaches, the technique of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) offers several merits. PLD is a physical vapor deposition approach, which is performed in an ultrahigh-vacuum environment. Therefore, the products are expected to be clean and free from contaminants. Most importantly, PLD enables actualization of large-area thin films, which can have a significant potential in the modern semiconductor industry. In the current chapter, the growth of TMDCs by PLD for applications in photodetection has been discussed, with a detailed analysis on the recent advancements in this area. The chapter will be concluded by providing an outlook and perspective on the strategies to overcome the shortcomings associated with the current devices.

Highlights

  • Photodetectors (PDs) are the optoelectronic devices which convert incident optical signals into electrical outputs through the phenomenon of light-matter interaction, which can be processed by the conventional read-out electronics

  • In spite of possessing unparalleled electronic and optoelectronic properties such as high carrier mobility, dangling bonds-free surface, large current carrying capacities, excellent mechanical properties, the zero band gap or the gapless electronic structure of graphene [25] limits its use in realization of practical applications-based PDs, which demand switching behavior or in other words, a definite on/off state. This has led to the exploration of graphene alternatives with a substantial band gap, and researchers and scientists across the world have resurrected a class of conventional 2D materials known as the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), characterized by low-fabrication cost, chemical stability, earth-abundance and environment-friendly properties

  • The basic properties of TMDCs and the common growth techniques employed for their fabrication have been reviewed briefly, followed by a detailed and elaborated discussion about pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and the important parameters associated with it

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Photodetectors (PDs) are the optoelectronic devices which convert incident optical signals into electrical outputs through the phenomenon of light-matter interaction, which can be processed by the conventional read-out electronics. In spite of possessing unparalleled electronic and optoelectronic properties such as high carrier mobility, dangling bonds-free surface, large current carrying capacities, excellent mechanical properties, the zero band gap or the gapless electronic structure of graphene [25] limits its use in realization of practical applications-based PDs, which demand switching behavior or in other words, a definite on/off state This has led to the exploration of graphene alternatives with a substantial band gap, and researchers and scientists across the world have resurrected a class of conventional 2D materials known as the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), characterized by low-fabrication cost, chemical stability, earth-abundance and environment-friendly properties. Gao et al [51] demonstrated a two-step synthesis route to fabricate 2D WTe2, which included PLD of amorphous WTe2 target followed by annealing treatment of the thin films in a Te atmosphere These reports suggest that the technique of PLD can be suitably applied for the successful production of various TMDCs. we will discuss in detail about the fundamentals associated with PLD

Basics of pulsed laser deposition
Recent advancements in the PLD growth of TMDCs-based PDs
Summary
Looking into the future

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.