Ultrahigh Detectivity From Multi-Interfaces Engineered Near-Infrared Colloidal Quantum Dot Photodetectors

Abstract

Low noise ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{i}_{\text{noise}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> ) and high responsivity ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{R}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> ) are significant factors for Lead sulfide (PbS) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) photodetectors implementing high specific detectivity ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{D}^\ast$</tex-math> </inline-formula> ). However, the simultaneous achievement of the above two factors is still challenging due to the complicated roles of interfaces and the difficulties in comprehensive interface modification by individual strategy. Here, we propose a well-designed PbS CQD near-infrared (NIR) photodiode with high performance by multi-interface engineering. First, the well-passivated interface of a photo-active layer is obtained by high-quality n-type CQD inks and gentle ligands cross-linked p-type CQD solid films, which leads to low defect density and thus extremely low device dark current ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sim$</tex-math> </inline-formula> 70 nA <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\cdot$</tex-math> </inline-formula> cm <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-\text{2}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> ). Second, the construction of LiF and MoO <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{\textit{x}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> carrier-selective layers in the electrode interfaces greatly increases the photogenerated charge carrier extraction efficiency due to the enhanced built-in electric field, which promotes a high <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{R}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> to 0.61 A <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\cdot$</tex-math> </inline-formula> W <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-\text{1}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> at 1100 nm. Both the two modifications enable low <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{i}_{\text{noise}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> and high <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{R}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> . Hence the device exhibits an ultrahigh <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\textit{D}^\ast$</tex-math> </inline-formula> up to 1.42 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times$</tex-math> </inline-formula> 10 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{\text{12}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> Jones. The further demonstration of high-precision biological health monitoring in both visible and infrared bands by this device illustrates its huge potential in ultra-sensitive broadband optoelectronic applications.