Ultraviolet Region Research Articles

Down-conversion luminescence and thermometric properties of novel orange-red Bi2Mo3O12:Pr3+ phosphors

Bi2Mo3O12: Pr3+ phosphors have been successfully synthesized through a one-step solid-state reaction method. The effects of Pr3+ concentration on lattice constants and optical properties were also studied. XRD patterns showed well-crystallized monoclinic structures for the prepared Bi2Mo3O12 and Bi2Mo3O12: Pr3+ samples. The UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra indicated strong absorption in the ultraviolet region. Excitation spectra demonstrated that the Bi2Mo3O12: Pr3+ could be efficiently excited under UV light in the 250-430 nm range and blue light at 450 nm. By varying the excitation wavelength, the emission color could be tuned from orange-red to red region. The strongest emission peak is located at around 597 nm, which is attributed to the 1D2→3H4 transition of Pr3+. An optical thermometer based on fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) shows a high sensitivity of Sr=2.02% K-1, indicating the developed materials have potential applications in the optical temperature sensing field.

Non-metallic doped GeC monolayer: tuning electronic and photo-electrocatalysis for water splitting.

We conducted a first-principles study on the electronic, magnetic, and optical characteristics of non-metallic atoms (B, C, F, H, N, O, P, S, and Si) doped in single-layer carbon germanium (GeC). The findings indicate that the introduction of various non-metallic atoms into the monolayer GeC leads to modifications in its band structure properties. Different non-metallic atoms doped in single-layer GeC will produce both magnetic and non-magnetic properties. B-, H-, N-, and P-doped GeC systems exhibit magnetic properties, while C-, F-, O-, S-, and Si-doped single-layer GeC systems exhibit non-magnetic properties. Different non-metallic-doped single-layer GeC systems will produce semiconductor, semimetallic, and metallic properties. The C-, N-, O-, P-, S-, and Si-doped GeC systems still exhibit semiconductor properties. The H-doped GeC system exhibits semimetallic properties, while the B- and F-doped GeC systems exhibit metallic properties. Other than that, the doping of B, H, N, and P atoms can modulate the magnetism of single-layer GeC. Subsequently, we studied the influence of the doping behavior on the work function, where the work function of the single-layer GeC system doped with P atoms is very small, indicating that its corresponding doping system (P-doped GeC system) can produce a good field emission effect. In the optical spectrum, the doped systems have a certain influence in the far ultraviolet region. Furthermore, our results showed that S- and Si-doped single-layer GeC systems are conducive to photocatalysis compared to the single-layer GeC system.

Fabrication of transparent silica glass and evaluation of silica particle dispersibility in silica slurries based on the solubility parameters of the slurry components

Silica particles were dispersed in 11 acrylic monomers at various concentrations. The dispersibility of the silica particles was evaluated based on the viscosity of the slurry. Furthermore, the relationship between the viscosity of the slurry and the solubility parameters (SPs) of the silica particles and acrylic monomers was investigated. When the SPs of the silica particles and acrylic monomers were close, the viscosity of the silica slurry decreased and high concentrations of the silica particles could be dispersed in the acrylic monomers. Therefore, SP can be used for predicting the dispersibility of silica particles. The prepared slurry was then used to fabricate sintered silica glass. Silica slurry was cured through photopolymerization to obtain a green body, which was then heat-treated at 850°C in air atmosphere and sintered at 1710°C under vacuum to obtain sintered silica glass. Transparent sintered silica glass with no cracks was obtained using 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate, which has a similar SP to that of silica particles, as a solvent. The obtained sintered silica glass exhibited a transmittance of 92% at a wavelength of 400 nm. In the ultraviolet region, light absorption originated from two-coordinated Si in the glass. The absorption spectrum in the infrared region showed an extremely low peak of the SiOH group, indicating that low-OH silica glass was obtained. Thus, this study provides a new method for fabricating silica glass and provides a method of selecting solvents for the slurries used in powder sintering.

Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Activity, Computational Evaluation and Molecular Docking Simulation of Dimeric Cu(II) Carboxylate Complexes

Copper(II) carboxylate complexes are important in biological fields. In this study, five new dinuclear Cu(II) complexes having the general formulae [Cu2(Cl-PAA)2(DMSO)2] (1), [Cu2(Cl-PAA)2(phen)2] (2), [Cu2(Cl-PAA)2(bipy)2] (3), [Cu2(Cl-PAA)2(py)2] (4), [Cu2(Cl-PAA)2(Cl-Py)2] (5) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. FTIR study supported the monodentate nature of the carboxylate in complexes 2 and 3 while bidentate bridging behavior of carboxylate was observed in complexes 1, 4 and 5. UV-Vis study revealed the presence of d-d transition in visible region, while charge transfer band was observed in ultraviolet region. Antimicrobial activities of complexes 1-5 were studied among which complexes 1, 2 and 4 showed good activities. The results of antioxidant assay demonstrated that free radical scavenging activity by Cu(II) complex containing 1,10-phenanthroline was higher compared to other complexes. All the synthesized complexes were optimized by DFT-D-based DMol3 module in Material Studio. After that, the quantum chemical parameters containing hardness, softness, and electrophilicity were calculated. Based on value of (ω), complex 2 showed the best biological activity that supported experimental studies. All complexes were investigated by molecular docking with cytochrome P450 14 alpha-sterol demethylase (1ea1), the docking findings demonstrated that complex 2 had the highest interaction with cytochrome P450 due to the biggest interaction energy of complex 2 as compared with other complexes. In addition, according to corrosion studies, complex 2 showed highest coating on the iron (110) surface protecting the iron from corrosion due to high adsorption value.

The DFT prediction of comprehensive properties of antiperovskites Mg6CX4 (X = S, Se, Te) and effects of defects and surface adsorption

It is important to search potential materials to meet ever-increasing demand in various fields. In order to understand the new hexagonal antiperovskites material Mg6CX4 (X=S, Se, Te), their mechanical, electronic and optical properties were studied based on density functional theory (DFT). The structural stability has been confirmed by the elastic constant criteria, formation energy, phonon dispersion spectra and ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation performed at 300K. Besides, the Poisson's ratios over 0.26 demonstrate the ductility of the studied materials. They all have direct electronic band structures with bandgaps of 0.977eV for Mg6CS4, 0.809eV for Mg6CSe4 and 1.274eV for Mg6CTe4, respectively. The calculated melting temperatures are all around 1000K, which indicates the potential for high-temperature application. Therefore, Mg6CTe4 fits most for absorber in solar cells due to its proper bandgap and dispersive band edge. The antiperovskites exhibit high and broad light absorption in visible and near ultraviolet region with absorption coefficient greater than 104cm-1, which inidcates a broad applicable prospect in optoelectronic field. Mg6CTe4 is also a candidate for efficient solid-state refrigeration due to its lowest thermal conductivity as 0.0046W/(K•m). The defect analysis suggest that oxygen defects are the most favorable and have complex effects on bandgaps. The high bandgap sensitivity to surface adsorbates implies potential application in gas detector.

Study on the tunable band gap of LiNaPb2Br6 superlattice and its optical properties

The property changes between APbBr3 (A = Li, Na) and LiPbBr3/NaPbBr3 superlattice (LiNaPb2Br6), as well as the electronic structure and optical properties of LiNaPb2Br6 under various pressures, have been investigated using the GGA-PBE method based on first-principles. The research shows that the band gap (Eg) value of LiNaPb2Br6 is 1.674 eV at 0 GPa, which is between that of LiPbBr3 and NaPbBr3. Meanwhile, the results indicate that the Eg of LiNaPb2Br6 gradually decreases with the increase in pressure, reaching 0.080 eV at 7 GPa, and its valence band top crosses the Fermi level at 8 GPa. Therefore, by combining the construction of superlattices with the application of pressure, the Eg of LiNaPb2Br6 can be continuously regulated in the range of 0–1.674 eV. Since the optical properties of a material primarily depend on its band structure, the optical properties of LiNaPb2Br6 can be widely adjusted by continuously tuning the Eg of this superlattice. The calculated results demonstrate that the optical properties of LiNaPb2Br6 were optimized in comparison to APbBr3 (A = Li, Na). In addition, the increase in pressure improves the absorption capability of LiNaPb2Br6 in both the visible and ultraviolet regions, thereby expanding the potential applications of LiNaPb2Br6 in the optical field.

First-principles investigation of electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of FeMnSb/GaZ (Z = As or P) interfaces

We systematically investigated the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of the FeMnSb half-Heusler alloy, its (001) surface, and its interfaces with GaAs and GaP semiconductors by using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The bulk FeMnSb reveals its half-metallic ferrimagnetism with 100% spin-polarization. Extending this study to the (001) surface, we uncover distinct electronic and magnetic behaviors for Fe- and MnSb-terminated surfaces, the MnSb-terminated surface preserving the half-metallicity observed in the bulk material. Our evaluation of the interfaces exhibits positive work of separation, indicating that these interfaces are energetically favorable. The density of states analysis reveals that all interfaces exhibit a metallic nature. High spin-polarization values, particularly 97.316% for the Fe-Ga interface, suggest a substantial degree of spin-polarized current. Notably, the absorption coefficient peaks shift from the ultraviolet (UV) region in the bulk alloy to the visible region at the (001) surfaces. However, at the FeMnSb/GaAs and FeMnSb/GaP interfaces, the highest absorption peaks revert to the UV region, highlighting strong interfacial coupling effects. These results suggest the tunability of FeMnSb optical properties via surface termination and interface engineering, making it a promising candidate for spintronic and optoelectronic applications.

Finely tuned energy gaps in host-guest complexes: Insights from belt[14]pyridine and fullerene-based nano-Saturn systems

Over the past few decades, doping, physisorption and chemisorption remained some of the commonly utilized methods to modify the energy gaps and electronic properties of materials. Yet, achieving precise control over tuning the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels within these systems persisted as a remarkable challenge. Therefore, there is a growing need for systems that facilitate exact adjustments of energy gaps and HOMO/LUMO levels. Here, in this research work, the nano-Saturn host-guest complex systems are designed based on belt[14]pyridine as a host and fullerene nanocages (C20, C32, C34 and C36) as guests. The greater thermodynamic stability of the complexes is revealed by the higher values of interaction energies (Eint) for these complexes, ranging from −45.50 to −56.81 kcal/mol. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis revealed the contribution of HOMO of fullerenes and LUMO of belt[14]pyridine towards the HOMO and LUMO of the designed complexes, respectively. The energy gaps of the complexes also decrease compared to the constituents, with the least Egap of 0.52 eV observed for C20@N-belt. Moreover, the charge transfer from the host towards the guests is predicted and confirmed via natural bond orbital (NBO) and electron density difference (EDD) analyses. The non-covalent interaction index (NCI) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses determine the nature and strength of interactions in the host-guest complexes. Moreover, it is noticed through the UV–vis analysis that the bare fullerenes show the maximum absorption in ultraviolet (UV) region, but after complexation, maximum absorption is observed in visible and near infrared (NIR) regions, with highest λmax of 927 nm for C36@N-belt. These findings highlight the successful development of nano-Saturn host-guest complexes with precise control over HOMO-LUMO levels and energy gaps. This work aims to address the challenges in fine-tuning the electronic properties and demonstrates potential applications in optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and NIR-based sensors. Moreover, the ability to tune the electronic properties can guide future material design strategies for advanced energy storage and photonic devices.

Analysis and simulation of opto-electronics characterization of two-dimensional Janus monolayers for energy applications

First-principles simulations are conducted to investigate the absorption and optoelectronic efficacy of molybdenum–sulfur–selenium, referred to here as MoSSe, and molybdenum–sulfur–oxygen, referred to here as MoSO, Janus monolayers. The materials MoSSe and MoSO demonstrate characteristics of semiconductors, as they possess bandgaps of 2.00 eV (direct) and 1.61 eV (indirect), respectively. This property renders them highly suitable for efficient light absorption. The efficiency of absorption of the device was calculated for the MoSSe and MoSO families, leading to the observation that these material families demonstrate a broad absorption range spanning from the infrared to the ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This finding represents a novel discovery. Furthermore, the design as a topmost cell is particularly attractive due to its exceptional device absorption efficiency and broader bandgap. This particular family ensures that its band edges remain in alignment with the water-redox potentials. Molybdenum sulfide and molybdenum selenide exhibit promising potential as photocatalysts and in optoelectronic device applications. This is attributed to their appealing photocatalytic properties and notable efficiency in absorbing light for the purpose of water splitting.

Enhanced piezo-photocatalytic activity of ZnS/Fe2O3: Benefit from type I junction and weak water flow-induced piezoelectric polarization

Photocatalysis is considered to be a sustainable and less polluting environmental purification technology, however, the limited photogenerated charge separation efficiency and light absorption hinder its large-scale application. Encouragingly, piezocatalysis is proposed as an emerging and appealing strategy to drive the migration and separation of photoinduced carriers. Nevertheless, the source of piezocatalysis is usually derived from high energy-consuming ultrasonic vibration. Herein, we realize superior piezo-photocatalytic chlortetracycline hydrochloride degradation performance stimulated by low-frequency water flow-driven piezoelectric polarization of I-type ZnS/Fe2O3 junction. The integration of Fe2O3 is beneficial to extend the light absorption from ultraviolet region to visible range and boost the charge separation efficiency of ZnS/Fe2O3. Meanwhile, the piezoelectric polarization triggered by weak water flow further promotes the directional separation of photogenerated carriers. With all these merits, the optimized ZnS/Fe2O3 shows a piezo-photocatalytic chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC) degradation rate of 73.2 % within 20 min, which is 2.8 and 2.1 times that of Fe2O3 and ZnS, respectively, and 17.4-fold and 1.1-fold that of single stirring and light, respectively. This work provides a feasible guidance for designing efficient piezo-photocatalysts for in-situ purification of wastewater in natural environmental with effective visible light responsiveness and sensitivity to weak mechanical stress.

Exploring the potential of α-Ge(1 1 1) monolayer in photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production

In this study, the structural, electronic, and optical properties of 2D α-Ge(1 1 1) are investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, complemented by many-body perturbation theory calculations based on the GW/BSE approach. The thermodynamic stability of this material is assessed through ab initio molecular dynamics simulations (AIMD), and their dynamic stability is confirmed via phonon dispersion calculations. The analysis of the optical properties reveals significant absorption peaks in both visible and ultraviolet regions, with an absorption edge at 47 eV (1.87 eV without excitonic effects). The band edges are well-aligned with water redox potentials at neutral pH, making them suitable for water-splitting applications. For other pH levels, we find the process may be feasible through the participation of different excited states populated by light absorption. Remarkably, the α-Ge(1 1 1) monolayer demonstrates a predicted solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 34.80 %, outperforming many other two-dimensional materials. These findings position the α-Ge(1 1 1) monolayer as a promising candidate for developing efficient photocatalytic materials for hydrogen generation via overall water splitting.

Theoretical investigation of structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermal properties of ternary compounds of heusler alloy ANiSn (A= TI, TH, U) using first principles calculations

In this study, we investigated the ANiSn (A = Ti, Th, U) half-Heusler materials for various properties, including structural, electronic, mechanical, elastic anisotropic, optical, and thermal properties, using Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) code. The elastic constants satisfied Born's criteria, confirming the thermodynamic and mechanical stability of the ANiSn compounds. Mechanical stability was further assessed through bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio. Our analysis revealed that TiNiSn and ThNiSn exhibit ductile behaviour, whereas UNiSn is brittle. The calculated elastic modulus indicated that the compounds we studied are elastically anisotropic. The electronic and optical properties confirmed the semiconducting nature of these materials, with significant absorption and conductivity observed in the ultraviolet region. ANiSn is suitable for manufacturing various optoelectronic devices, such as laser diodes (LDs), photodetectors, LEDs, and UV sensors, due to its high absorption coefficient in the IR to UV regions. Additionally, measured Debye and melting temperatures confirmed that TiNiSn is more thermally conductive and can be used in high-temperature structural substances. The low minimum thermal conductivity suggests that UNiSn may be a more efficient material for thermal barrier coatings (TBC) compared to TiNiSn and ThNiSn.

Ab-initio investigation of structural, electronic, thermoelectric and optical properties of Full-Heusler X2MnB (X = Ti, Zr) for energy harvesting applications

In this manuscript comprehensive first-principles calculations have been presented for Full-Heusler X2MnB (X = Ti, Zr) compounds. This work includes detailed observations of the structural stability, origin of the transport phenomenon, optical properties, and electronic response. Structural parameters support the previous findings by confirming structural stability in the non-magnetic phase. Ti2MnB (Zr2MnB) valence band maxima and conduction band minima have bandgaps of 0.217 (0.301) eV and 0.181 (0.209) eV for PBE-GGA (mBJ) approximations which lie between L-L symmetry points. Due to the comparative measurements of the two states, the DOS results show that the Ti1/Zr1, Ti2/Zr2 Mn eg, and t2g states mainly contribute to the valence band region for Ti2MnB and Zr2MnB alloys, confirming their ionic nature. The computation of the overall electronic parameters’ reveals semiconducting nature. Thermoelectric properties have been calculated as a function of temperature in the 100–1200 K range. The positive values of Seebeck coefficients specify p-type character of X2MnB While at 300 K, Zr2MnB and Ti2MnB showed the highest Seebeck coefficients, measuring roughly values of 268 (µK/V) and 243 (µK/V), respectively. These values suggest that the material exhibits high thermoelectric performance. Though high optical absorption coefficient and low reflectivity in the visible and ultra violet regions, confirms use of these materials in solar cell applications. These findings suggest that material holds great potential for use in thermoelectrical applications which can support in upcoming experimental considerations.

New semiconducting lead-free halide double perovskite Ag2LiGaF6 for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications

A comprehensive study of lead-free halide double perovskite using density functional theory (DFT) including structural, electronic, dynamical, mechanical, optical, and thermoelectric properties has been carried out. The tolerance factor and the octahedral factor confirm that the compound belongs to face-centred-cubic structure with Fm-3m space group. The predicted band structure and DOS exhibit that the material is an indirect bandgap semiconductor. Our calculation reveals that material is dynamically stable because of no negative frequency found in phonon-dispersion curve. The material also possesses mechanical stability. The optical spectra of material show good absorbance and low reflectivity in ultraviolet region. The thermoelectric part discusses the Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, power factor, and figure of merit (zT) at different chemical potential into temperature range 400–1200 K. The purpose of this investigation is to stimulate researchers to develop this kind of material and assess their potential for the advancement of contemporary thermoelectric and optoelectronic devices.

Wide spectral range optical characterization of niobium pentoxide ([formula omitted]) films by universal dispersion model

In this work, the optical properties of niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) films were extensively studied across a wide spectral range using heterogeneous data-processing methods, combining ellipsometric and spectrophotometric measurements for five samples with thicknesses between 20 and 250 nm. This study primarily determined the optical constants of Nb2O5 from the far infrared to the vacuum ultraviolet, presenting these constants as dispersion parameters using the universal dispersion model to describe valence electron excitations in ultraviolet region as well as phonon vibrations in infrared region. These comprehensive and reliable data across such a broad spectral range are unprecedented. Secondly, presented optical characterization proofs that Nb2O5 films can be grown without defects such as surface roughness, porosity, or inhomogeneity. This fact, together with its high refractive index, makes Nb2O5 a promising material for optical applications.

Study of electronic, mechanical, optical, and thermoelectric properties of stable double perovskites Cs2K(Ga/In)I6 for solar cells renewable energy

Double perovskites are exceptional materials for thermoelectric and optoelectronic applications in pursuing green energy. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of Cs2K(Ga/In)I6 has been conducted, focusing on its mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties by using wien2k, BoltzTraP, ShengBTE, and Phonopy codes. The stability of these compounds has been ensured by considering the tolerance factor, formation energy, phonon spectra, and elastic constants. The elastic and thermophysical properties, including ductility, anisotropy, Debye temperature, and melting temperature, are reported to be noteworthy. The band gaps of Cs2K(Ga/In)I6, measured to be 1.92 and 2.08 eV, indicate the presence of absorption bands in both the visible and ultraviolet regions. Significant absorbance, polarization, low optical reflectivity, and energy loss have been discussed in relation to photovoltaic applications. In addition, the transport characteristics are examined by analyzing the Seebeck coefficient and thermal and electrical conductivities. Due to their high figure of merit and exceptionally low lattice thermal conductivity at room temperature, these materials are highly recommended for thermoelectric generators.

Localized surface plasmon resonance enhanced deep ultraviolet photodetectors based on Pd@Nb2CTx/AlGaN van der Waals heterojunctions

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) has been proven as an effective means to improve the performance of optoelectronic devices from infrared to ultraviolet region. However, due to the lack of suitable plasmon materials in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) region, studies in this field were relatively rare. Herein, a simple solution reduction method was proposed to decorate palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) onto two-dimensional (2D) niobium carbide Nb2CTx (MXene) nanosheets to fabricate Pd@Nb2CTx/aluminum-gallium nitride (AlGaN) van der Waals heterojunction (vdWH) DUV photodetectors (PDs). Thanks to the plasmon coupling between Pd@Nb2CTx and AlGaN, the obvious enhanced optical absorption and carrier excitation of the as-fabricated DUV PDs have been observed with a peak responsivity of 0.86 A/W, as well as a fast response (rise/decay time of 37.8/14.5 ms) under −3 V bias and 254 nm DUV illumination. This study provides direct evidence for LSPR of Pd NPs in the DUV region, which will develop an optional pathway for the structure design of DUV PDs.

Synthesis, characterization, and double shielding performance for ultraviolet and short-wave blue light of ceria-based materials

In order to extend the photo-shielding range of ceria from the ultraviolet (UV) region (≤400 nm) to the high-energy short-wave blue light (BL) region (400–450 nm), three groups of ceria-based materials, including ceria nanoparticles (nano-CeO2), cerium-oxygen-sulfur (Ce-O-S) composites and samarium-cerium-oxygen-sulfur (Sm-Ce-O-S) composites, were prepared from the perspectives of improving the preparation method, non-metal doping and metal/non-metal co-doping. Although the three groups of as-prepared samples have similar phase composition, morphology and pore structure, the Sm-Ce-O-S composites show remarkable double shielding performance for UV light and short-wave BL. Compared with nano-CeO2 and Ce-O-S composites, Sm-Ce-O-S composites that retains the characteristics of n-type semiconductor exhibits a greater degree of lattice distortion, higher concentrations of Ce3+ (41.17 %) and oxygen vacancy (77.29 %), and narrower band gap (2.71 eV). Through the comparison of the three groups of samples, the order of modification degree from high to low is as follows: metal/non-metal co-doping > non-metal doping > improving the preparation method. This paper provides experimental and theoretical support for breaking through the bottleneck of ceria in the fields of UV shielding agents and catalysts.

TB-mBJ for doping concentration effects on magneto-optical properties in [formula omitted] spintronics materials

An investigation for electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of Mn-doped ZnSnAs2 compound performed using advanced computational methods. Using spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations with local orbital linearized augmented plane wave (lo-LAPW) method and Tran–Blaha’s modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) functional, Mn-doped n-type chalcopyrite semiconductor ZnMnxSn(1−x)As2, studied within varying Mn doping concentration range 0≤x≤0.5. Doping of Mn to Sn site in pure ZnSnAs2 creates a strong spin effect, which makes it useful spintronic materials. We observed with increase the Mn concentration in ZnSnAs2, energy bandgap changes while the magnetic strength of the unit cell remains unchanged, showing stability of system’s magnetism. Optical properties of the Mn doped ZnSnAs2 compounds analysed in term of dielectric function, absorption spectra, and refractive index. Optical properties show, compound is optically low active in the Infrared (IR) region and more active in visible and ultraviolet (UV) region. The electronic and optical properties of Mn-doped ZnSnAs2, offer potential technological advancements in semiconductor device design technology and engineering.

Performance of Low-Dimensional Solid Room-Temperature Photodetectors-Critical View.

In the last twenty years, nanofabrication progress has allowed for the emergence of a new photodetector family, generally called low-dimensional solids (LDSs), among which the most important are two-dimensional (2D) materials, perovskites, and nanowires/quantum dots. They operate in a wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to far-infrared. Current research indicates remarkable advances in increasing the performance of this new generation of photodetectors. The published performance at room temperature is even better than reported for typical photodetectors. Several articles demonstrate detectivity outperforming physical boundaries driven by background radiation and signal fluctuations. This study attempts to explain these peculiarities. In order to achieve this goal, we first clarify the fundamental differences in the photoelectric effects of the new generation of photodetectors compared to the standard designs dominating the commercial market. Photodetectors made of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), quantum dots, topological insulators, and perovskites are mainly considered. Their performance is compared with the fundamental limits estimated by the signal fluctuation limit (in the ultraviolet region) and the background radiation limit (in the infrared region). In the latter case, Law 19 dedicated to HgCdTe photodiodes is used as a standard reference benchmark. The causes for the performance overestimate of the different types of LDS detectors are also explained. Finally, an attempt is made to determine their place in the global market in the long term.