Polarization-Sensitive Photoelectric Conversion

The photoelectric conversion process has traditionally been dominated by studies on light intensity, while the role of polarization remains an emerging and underexplored frontier. Despite the growing number of mechanisms and material architectures demonstrating polarization-sensitive photoelectric responses, a systematic framework to unify these findings is still lacking. This review establishes a comprehensive structure based on the photoelectric conversion pathway, spanning from multidimensional light-field parameters (including intensity, polarization angle, degree of polarization, and ellipticity) to electronic degrees of freedom (charge, momentum, spin, and valley) and ultimately to multidimensional electrical outputs (absorption scalars, current vectors). Leveraging symmetry analysis, we categorize polarization-sensitive photoelectric responses into scalar and vector photocurrent contributions, systematically examining material structures that exhibit the requisite symmetries. Special attention is given to oblique incidence illumination, which modulates symmetry and induces polarization-dependent effects. Finally, we outline the future research directions.