New concept ultraviolet photodetectors

Benefitting from the continuous innovations in semiconductor materials and device fabricating techniques, ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors have been successfully used in advanced communications, flame detection, air purification, ozone sensing and leak detection, among others, in the past few decades. Nowadays, nanoscience, nanofabrication technologies and versatile materials have sparked a new vision of UV photodetectors, which move toward higher precision, lower energy consumption and greater miniaturization. This paper is thus mainly focused on the perspective of molding devices through exploring new materials and novel architectures inspired by state-of-the-art UV photodetectors, predicting the direction of next-generation photodetectors. It is expected that new concept UV photodetectors with smart, intelligent and multifunctional design will benefit daily life and the wellbeing of society in the near future.