Cu2SnS3nanostructures for inorganic–organic hybrid infrared photodetector applications

Cu2SnS3 (CTS) nanostructures were synthesized using the solvothermal method and used in a CTS-polymer inorganic–organic hybrid device to study the enhancement in the infrared (IR) photoresponse. The structural and optical properties of the CTS nanostructures were measured. The IR photoresponse was measured for both the P3HT-PCBM polymer blend and various concentrations of CTS in P3HT-PCBM. The responsivity, sensitivity, external quantum efficiency and specific detectivity were found to be 19.4 mA W−1, 1.4, 3.01% and 7.97 × 108 Jones respectively for the P3HT:PCBM = 1:1 sample and 211.5 mA W−1, 3.6, 32.8% and 8.7 × 109 Jones respectively for CTS:P3HT:PCBM = 12:1:1 sample at 1 V bias and 477.7 mW cm−2 IR illumination intensity. The photoresponse was also measured under 1550 nm laser illumination of 1100 mW cm−2 intensity. The time dependent photoresponse showed good cyclic stability over time for different ON–OFF cycles. CTS nanostructures prove to be beneficial in enhancing the photoresponse of the IR photodetector device.