Hole-dominated Fowler-Nordheim tunneling in 2D heterojunctions for infrared imaging

Heterostructures based on diverse two-dimensional (2D) materials are effective for tailoring and further promoting device performance and exhibit considerable potential in photodetection. However, the problem of high-density thermionic carriers can be hardly overcome in most reported heterostructure devices based on type I and type II band alignment, which leads to an unacceptably small I-photo/I-dark and strong temperature dependence that limit the performance of photodetectors. Here, using the MoTe2/h-BN/ MoTe2/h-BN heterostructure, we report the hole-dominated Fowler-Nordheim quantum tunneling transport in both on and off states. The state-of-the-art device operating at room temperature shows high detectivity of > 10(8) Jones at a laser power density of <0.3 nW mu m(2) from the visible to near infrared range. In addition, the fast on-off switching and highly sensitive photodetection properties promise superior imaging capabilities. The tunneling mechanism, in combination with other unique properties of 2D materials, is significant for novel photodetection. (C) 2020 Science China Press. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science China Press. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The research utilizes MoTe2/h-BN/MoTe2/h-BN heterostructure to achieve hole-dominated Fowler-Nordheim quantum tunneling transport in both on and off states, achieving high detectivity and fast response in photodetection performance, promising superior imaging capabilities.