Multilayer WSe2/ZnO heterojunctions for self-powered, broadband, and high-speed photodetectors

Abstract Self-powered broadband photodetectors have attracted great interest due to their applications in biomedical imaging, integrated circuits, wireless communication systems, and optical switches. Recently, significant research is being carried out to develop high-performance self-powered photodetectors based on thin 2D materials and their heterostructures due to their unique optoelectronic properties. Herein, a vertical heterostructure based on p-type 2D WSe2 and n-type thin film ZnO is realized for photodetectors with a broadband response in the wavelength range of 300–850 nm. Due to the formation of a built-in electric field at the WSe2/ZnO interface and the photovoltaic effect, this structure exhibits a rectifying behavior with a maximum photoresponsivity and detectivity of ∼131 mA W−1 and ∼3.92 × 1010 Jones, respectively, under an incident light wavelength of λ = 300 nm at zero voltage bias. It also shows a 3-dB cut-off frequency of ∼300 Hz along with a fast response time of ∼496 μs, making it suitable for high-speed self-powered optoelectronic applications. Furthermore, the facilitation of charge collection under reverse voltage bias results in a photoresponsivity as high as ∼7160 mA W−1 and a large detectivity of ∼1.18 × 1011 Jones at a bias voltage of −5 V. Hence, the p-WSe2/n-ZnO heterojunction is proposed as an excellent candidate for high-performance, self-powered, and broadband photodetectors.