ZnO nanoneedle/H2O solid-liquid heterojunctionbased self-powered ultraviolet detector
Li, Q Wei, L Xie, Y Zhang, K Liu, L Zhu, D Jiao, J Chen, Y Yan, S Liu, G
Li, Q
Wei, L
Xie, Y
Zhang, K
Liu, L
Jiao, J
Chen, Y
Yan, S
Liu, G
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Alternative Title
Abstract
ZnO nanoneedle arrays were grown vertically on a fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated glass by hydrothermal method at a relatively low temperature. A self-powered photoelectrochemical cell-type UV detector was fabricated using the ZnO nanoneedles as the active photoanode and H2O as the electrolyte. This solid-liquid heterojunction offers an enlarged ZnO/water contact area and a direct pathway for electron transport simultaneously. By connecting this UV photodetector to an ammeter, the intensity of UV light can be quantified using the output short-circuit photocurrent without a power source. High photosensitivity, excellent spectral selectivity, and fast photoresponse at zero bias are observed in this UV detector. The self-powered behavior can be well explained by the formation of a space charge layer near the interface of the solid-liquid heterojunction, which results in a built-in potential and makes the solid-liquid heterojunction work in photovoltaic mode.
Keywords
Electrolytes, Electron transport properties, Heterojunctions, II-VI semiconductors, Liquids, Nanocomposites, Nanoneedles, Photodetectors, Photoelectrochemical cells, Photons, Photovoltaic effects, Temperature, Tin oxides, Zinc oxide, Fluorine doped tin oxide, Hydrothermal methods, Short-circuit photocurrent, Solid-liquid, Space charge layers, Spectral selectivity, Ultra-violet photodetectors, ZnO nanoneedles, Phase interfaces
Source Title
Nanoscale Research Letters
Publisher
Series/Report No.
Collections
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International
Date
2013
DOI
10.1186/1556-276X-8-415
Type
Article