Skip to main content
Log in

A High Performance Solar-Blind Detector Based on Mixed–Phase Zn0.45Mg0.55O Alloy Nanowires Network

  • Original Article - Electronics, Magnetics and Photonics
  • Published:
Electronic Materials Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mixed-phase Zn0.45Mg0.55O alloy nanowires network was firstly synthesized on SiO2/Si substrate by chemical vapor deposition method. The metal–semiconductor–metal structured Zn0.45Mg0.55O nanowires solar-blind photodetector with a sharp absorption peak of wavelength 245 nm was fabricated, which exhibited an ultra-low dark current (0.2 nA), a high on–off ratio (2.85 × 103), a large peak responsivity (0.48 A/W) at 6 V bias, and a high external quantum efficiency (234.2%). This excellent performance is comparable with other ZnMgO thin film UV photodetectors. Moreover, the detection mechanism of this photodetector is explained by the modifications in energy band diagrams of different nanojunctions among Zn0.45Mg0.55O nanowires and heterojunction interfaces between wurtzite and cubic structured ZnMgO in mixed-phase Zn0.45Mg0.55O nanowire. It is found that nanojunctions and heterojunction interfaces could be responsible for a low dark current and high responsivity of this device based on mixed-phase Zn0.45Mg0.55O nanowire materials. This work reveals that the distinctive advantages of mixed-phase ZnMgO nanowires network for ultraviolet optoelectronic detection applications.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Peng, L., Hu, L., Fang, X.: Low-dimensional nanostructure ultraviolet photodetectors. Adv. Mater. 25, 37 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Han, S., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Zhao, Y., Wang, L., Zheng, J., Yao, B., Zhao, D., Shen, D.: Mg0.58Zn0.42O thin films on MgO substrates with MgO buffer layer. ACS Appl. Mater. Inter. 2, 7 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Li, L., Lee, P.S., Yan, C., Zhai, T., Fang, X., Liao, M., Koide, Y., Bando, Y., Golberg, D.: Ultrahigh-performance solar-blind photodetectors based on individual single-crystalline In(2)Ge(2)O(7) nanobelts. Adv. Mater. 22, 45 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Li, Y., Tokizono, T., Liao, M., Zhong, M., Koide, Y., Yamada, I., Delaunay, J.-J.: Efficient assembly of bridged β-Ga2O3 nanowires for solar-blind photodetection. Adv. Funct. Mater. 20, 22 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Tsai, D.S., Lien, W.C., Lien, D.H., Chen, K.M., Tsai, M.L., Senesky, D.G., Yu, Y.C., Pisano, A.P., He, J.H.: Solar-blind photodetectors for harsh electronics. Sci. Rep. 3, 2628 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Özgür, Ü., Alivov, Y.I., Liu, C., Teke, A., Reshchikov, M.A., Doğan, S., Avrutin, V., Cho, S.J., Morkoç, H.: A comprehensive review of ZnO materials and devices. J. Appl. Phys. 98, 41301 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Du, X., Mei, Z., Liu, Z., Guo, Y., Zhang, T., Hou, Y., Zhang, Z., Xue, Q., Kuznetsov, A.Y.: Controlled growth of high-quality ZnO-based films and fabrication of visible-blind and solar-blind ultra-violet detectors. Adv. Mater. 21, 45 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang, Z.L.: Splendid one-dimensional nanostructures of zinc oxide: a new nanomaterial family for nanotechnology. ACS Nano 2, 10 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wang, Z.L.: Zinc oxide nanostructures: growth, properties and applications. J. Phys. Condens. Matter 16, 25 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Teng, Y., Song, L.X., Liu, W., Xu, Z.Y., Wang, Q.S., Ruan, M.M.: Monodispersed hierarchical ZnGa2O4 microflowers for self-powered solar-blind detection. J. Mater. Chem. C. 4, 15 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Xie, X., Zhang, Z., Li, B., Wang, S., Jiang, M., Shan, C., Zhao, D., Chen, H., Shen, D.: Enhanced solar-blind responsivity of photodetectors based on cubic MgZnO films via gallium doping. Opt. Express 22, 1 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu, Z., Huang, H., Liang, B., Wang, X., Wang, Z., Chen, D., Shen, G.: Zn2GeO4 and In2Ge2O7 nanowire mats based ultraviolet photodetectors on rigid and flexible substrates. Opt. Express 20, 3 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Su, L., Chen, H., Xu, X., Fang, X.: Novel BeZnO based self-powered dual-color UV photodetector realized via a one-step fabrication method. Laser. Photonics Rev. 11, 6 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Fan, M.M., Liu, K.W., Chen, X., Wang, X., Zhang, Z.Z., Li, B.H., Shen, D.Z.: Mechanism of excellent photoelectric characteristics in mixed-phase ZnMgO ultraviolet photodetectors with single cutoff wavelength. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 37 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fan, M.M., Liu, K.W., Zhang, Z.Z., Li, B.H., Chen, X., Zhao, D.X., Shan, C.X., Shen, D.Z.: High-performance solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector based on mixed-phase ZnMgO thin film. Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 1 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yang, J.-L., Liu, K.-W., Shen, D.-Z.: Recent progress of ZnMgO ultraviolet photodetector. Chin. Phys. B 26, 4 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Liu, P., Wang, H., Chen, J., Li, X., Zeng, H.: Rapid and high-efficiency laser-alloying formation of ZnMgO nanocrystals. Sci Rep. 6, 28131 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang, L.K., Ju, Z.G., Zhang, J.Y., Zheng, J., Shen, D.Z.: Single-crystalline cubic MgZnO films and their application in deepultraviolet optoelectronic devices. Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 131113 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Xie, X.H., Zhang, Z.Z., Shan, C.X., Chen, H.Y., Shen, D.Z.: Dual-color ultraviolet photodetector based on mixed-phase-MgZnO/i-MgO/p-Si double heterojunction. Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 8 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Liang, H.L., Mei, Z.X., Liu, Z.L., Guo, Y., Azarov, A.Y., Kuznetsov, A.Y., Hallen, A., Du, X.L.: Growth of single-phase Mg0.3Zn0.7O films suitable for solar-blind optical devices on RS-MgO substrates. Thin Solid Films. 520, 6 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Li, L., Gu, L., Lou, Z., Fan, Z., Shen, G.: ZnO quantum dot decorated Zn2SnO4 nanowire heterojunction photodetectors with drastic performance enhancement and flexible ultraviolet image sensors. ACS Nano 11, 4 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Xu, L., Li, X., Zhan, Z., Wang, L., Feng, S., Chai, X., Lu, W., Shen, J., Weng, Z., Sun, J.: Catalyst-free, selective growth of ZnO nanowires on SiO2 by chemical vapor deposition for transfer-free fabrication of UV photodetectors. ACS. Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 36 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Endo, H., Kikuchi, M., Ashioi, M., Kashiwaba, Y., Hane, K., Kashiwaba, Y.: High-sensitivity mid-ultraviolet Pt/Mg0.59Zn0.41O schottky photodiode on a ZnO single crystal substrate. Appl. Phys. Express. 1, 5 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lou, Z., Li, L., Shen, G.: High-performance rigid and flexible ultraviolet photodetectors with single-crystalline ZnGa2O4 nanowires. Nano Res. 8, 7 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hsu, C.L., Chang, S.J.: Doped ZnO 1D nanostructures: synthesis, properties, and photodetector application. Small 10, 22 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhan, Z., Xu, L., An, J., Du, H., Weng, Z., Lu, W.: Direct catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition of ZnO nanowire array UV photodetectors with enhanced photoresponse speed. Adv. Eng. Mater. 19, 8 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Liu, Y.H., Young, S.-J., Hsiao, C.H., Ji, L.-W., Meen, T.H., Water, W., Chang, S.-J.: Visible-blind photodetectors with Mg-doped ZnO nanorods. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett. 26, 7 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhu, Y., Liu, K., Wang, X., Yang, J., Chen, X., Xie, X., Li, B., Shen, D.: Performance improvement of a ZnMgO ultraviolet detector by chemical treatment with hydrogen peroxide. J. Mater. Chem. C 5, 30 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Gedamu, D., Paulowicz, I., Kaps, S., Lupan, O., Wille, S., Haidarschin, G., Mishra, Y.K., Adelung, R.: Rapid fabrication technique for interpenetrated ZnO nanotetrapod networks for fast UV sensors. Adv. Mater. 26, 10 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Li, L., Jiang, H., Han, X., Zhan, Z., Du, H., Lu, W., Li, Z., Tao, Z., Fan, Y.: Optimizing growth of ZnO nanowire networks for high-performance UV detection. Ceram. Int. 43, 17 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Peng, S.M., Su, Y.K., Ji, L.W., Wu, C.Z., Cheng, W.B., Chao, W.C.: ZnO nanobridge array UV photodetectors. J. Phys. Chem. C. 114, 7 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Fan, M.-M., Liu, K.-W., Chen, X., Zhang, Z.-Z., Li, B.-H., Zhao, H.-F., Shen, D.-Z.: Realization of cubic ZnMgO photodetectors for UVB applications. J. Mater. Chem. C 3, 2 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Fan, M.-M., Liu, K.-W., Chen, X., Zhang, Z.-Z., Li, B.-H., Shen, D.-Z.: A self-powered solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector based on a Ag/ZnMgO/ZnO structure with fast response speed. RSC Adv. 7, 22 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Hou, Y.N., Mei, Z.X., Liang, H.L., Ye, D.Q., Gu, C.Z., Du, X.L.: Dual-band MgZnO ultraviolet photodetector integrated with Si. Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 153510 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Liang, H.L., Mei, Z.X., Zhang, Q.H., Gu, L., Liang, S., Hou, Y.N., Ye, D.Q., Gu, C.Z., Yu, R.C., Du, X.L.: Interface engineering of high-Mg-content MgZnO/BeO/Si for p-n heterojunction solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 221902 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Han, S., Zhang, Z., Zhang, J., Wang, L., Zheng, J., Zhao, H., Zhang, Y., Jiang, M., Wang, S., Zhao, D., Shan, C., Li, B., Shen, D.: Photoconductive gain in solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector based on Mg0.52Zn0.48O thin film. Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 24 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wang, L.K., Ju, Z.G., Zhang, J.Y., Zheng, J., Shen, D.Z., Yao, B., Zhao, D.X., Zhang, Z.Z., Li, B.H., Shan, C.X.: Single-crystalline cubic MgZnO films and their application in deep-ultraviolet optoelectronic devices. Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 13 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Chongqing Research Program of Basic Research and Frontier Technology (No.cstc2017jcyjBX0030), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.61605207), the Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Special Funds (2018), Chongqing major themes of integrated circuit industry (2018).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenqiang Lu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ma, S., Feng, S., Kang, S. et al. A High Performance Solar-Blind Detector Based on Mixed–Phase Zn0.45Mg0.55O Alloy Nanowires Network. Electron. Mater. Lett. 15, 303–313 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-019-00121-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-019-00121-2

Keywords

Navigation