Highly efficient UV detection in a metal-semiconductor-metal detector with epigraphene
Journal article, 2022

We show that epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide (epigraphene) grown at high temperatures (T >1850 °C) readily acts as material for implementing solar-blind ultraviolet (UV) detectors with outstanding performance. We present centimeter-sized epigraphene metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) detectors with a peak external quantum efficiency of η ∼85% for wavelengths λ = 250-280 nm, corresponding to nearly 100% internal quantum efficiency when accounting for reflection losses. Zero bias operation is possible in asymmetric devices, with the responsivity to UV remaining as high as R = 134 mA/W, making this a self-powered detector. The low dark currents Io ∼50 fA translate into an estimated record high specific detectivity D = 3.5 × 1015 Jones. The performance that we demonstrate, together with material reproducibility, renders epigraphene technologically attractive to implement high-performance planar MSM devices with a low processing effort, including multi-pixel UV sensor arrays, suitable for a number of practical applications.

Author

Hans He

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

2D-Tech

Naveen Shetty

2D-Tech

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Sergey Kubatkin

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

2D-Tech

Pascal Stadler

2D-Tech

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Applied Quantum Physics

Tomas Löfwander

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Applied Quantum Physics

Mikael Fogelström

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2)

2D-Tech

J. C. Miranda-Valenzuela

Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education

Rositsa Yakimova

Linköping University

Graphensic AB

Thilo Bauch

2D-Tech

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Samuel Lara Avila

2D-Tech

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

Applied Physics Letters

0003-6951 (ISSN) 1077-3118 (eISSN)

Vol. 120 19 191101

Novel two-dimensional systems: from growth to applications

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (RMA15-0024), 2016-05-01 -- 2021-06-30.

Epitaxiell grafen för metrologi, sensorer och elektronik

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (GMT14-0077), 2016-01-01 -- 2020-12-31.

2D material-based technology for industrial applications (2D-TECH)

VINNOVA (2019-00068), 2020-05-01 -- 2024-12-31.

GKN Aerospace Sweden (2D-tech), 2021-01-01 -- 2024-12-31.

Subject Categories

Accelerator Physics and Instrumentation

Other Chemical Engineering

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Materials Science

DOI

10.1063/5.0090219

More information

Latest update

10/19/2022