Fast-response self-powered flexible transparent ultraviolet photodetectors based on a CuO/ZnO nanowire array heterojunction

Self-powered flexible transparent ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs) have attracted great attention for next-generation portable and wearable optoelectronic device applications. However, it is still a challenge to fabricate high performance self-powered UV PDs with high flexibility and superior transparency. In this work, we report self-powered flexible transparent UV PDs with fast response speed, high transparency and excellent mechanical stability based on a CuO/ZnO nanowire (NW) array heterojunction on the Cu NW backbone. The device exhibits fast photoresponse times with a rise time of 16 ms and a decay time of 17 ms, a large photocurrent/dark current ratio of 392 and a high transparency of 80%. In addition, the as-fabricated self-powered UV PDs can retain good photoresponse performance when the device is bent even after 10 000 bending cycles, suggesting their superior mechanical stability.

Automated summary

In this work, self-powered flexible transparent ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors with fast response speed, high transparency, and excellent mechanical stability are reported. The device is based on a CuO/ZnO nanowire array heterojunction on a Cu NW backbone. It exhibits a rise time of 16 ms, a decay time of 17 ms, a photocurrent/dark current ratio of 392, and a transparency of 80%. Furthermore, the device retains good photoresponse performance even after 10,000 bending cycles, demonstrating its superior mechanical stability.