Non-artificial Layered Heterostructure as Inch-size Single Crystal for Shortwave Polarized-Light Array Detector

Layered heterostructures of different 2D building blocks have invigorated the booming of 2D materials toward high-performance optoelectronic devices. However, contrary to the typical artificial multi-component form, the engineering of non-artificial layered heterostructure into single-phase crystals and resultant properties are largely overlooked. Here, for the first time, an inch-sized single crystal of a non-artificial layered heterostructure is exploited, (PbBr2)(2)(AMTP)(2)PbBr4 (1, AMTP is 4-ammoniomethyltetrahydropyran), serving as polarization-sensitive candidate. Notably, it adopts an interleaved architecture of 2D perovskite slabs with the distinct non-perovskite lattice, thus forming a self-assembled perovskite-intergrowth layered heterostructure. This motif leads to new electronic transitions distributed across two sublattices and affords an inherent in-plane anisotropy ratio of approximate to 1.6, beyond some known inorganic materials (e.g., GeSe: 1.44; GeAs: 1.49). Combining this in-plane anisotropy and wide bandgap (approximate to 2.9 eV), lateral crystal array of 1 enables shortwave polarized-light detection with ultrahigh responsivity and detectivity under weak illumination compared to some inorganic polarized detectors. As the first demonstration of inch-sized single crystals of non-artificial layered heterostructure, this study affords a new platform to explore candidates toward high-performance optoelectronic devices.

Automated summary

This study presents the first demonstration of an inch-sized single crystal of a non-artificial layered heterostructure, which serves as a polarization-sensitive candidate and enables shortwave polarized-light detection with ultrahigh responsivity and detectivity. This research affords a new platform to explore candidates toward high-performance optoelectronic devices.