Ultrasensitive self-powered heterojunction ultraviolet photodetector of p-GaN nanowires on Si by halide chemical vapour deposition

Abstract

In this study, we report the fabrication of quasi-aligned p-GaN nanowires (NWs) on n-Si (1 1 1) substrate by halide chemical vapour deposition (HCVD) using MgCl2 precursor and followed by low-energy electron beam irradiation to activate the Mg acceptor doping in GaN NWs. We aimed to attain a comprehensive understanding of p-doping in GaN NWs growth, extensive characterizations and fabrication of UV photodetector (PDs) based on p-GaN NWs/n-Si heterojunction. To realize the efficient UV photodetectors, we measure the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of heterojunction PDs under dark and illuminated conditions and the I–V curve demonstrates good rectifying behaviours with 0.2 V turn-on voltage. At zero bias, the heterojunction PDs show a reverse photocurrent of 1.27 × 10−6 A with a very low dark current of 2.35 × 10−9 A under 325 nm UV illumination. Besides, the significance of the self-powered operation of UV PDs and the charge transfer mechanism are discussed with the aid of the energy band diagram. The substantial photocurrent increment with varying applied potential leads to narrowing the photo potential in the interface. The excitonic bound states present in p-GaN NWs/n-Si heterojunction is further elucidated. As a result, the heterojunction PDs demonstrate the high responsivity, detectivity, and external quantum efficiency of 134 mA W−1, 3.73 × 1013 Jones, and 51% respectively, at 0.1 V low applied potential under the reverse bias condition. The proposed work provides an archetype for Mg doping in GaN NWs ensembles, which will help to facilitate the heterojunction with n-Si to unleash the potential of self-powered UV PDs.