High-performing ultrafast transparent photodetector governed by the pyro-phototronic effect

In this work we utilized the advantage of the photo-induced pyroelectric effect - known as Pyro-phototronic - to design a self-powered, ultrafast, transparent ultraviolet (UV, 365 nm) photodetector. The device architecture contains an UV absorbing pyroelectric ZnO layer sandwiched between hole-selective V2O5 and a bottom ITO electrode. In addition, the device shows a high optical transmittance, >70%, in the entire visible region. The photo current of the device was enhanced from 19 to 42 mu A under pulsed UV light illumination (lambda = 365 nm, 4 mW cm(-2)) by exploiting the pyro-phototronic potential. In addition, the photodetector demonstrated ultrafast responses of similar to 4 mu s for the rise time and similar to 16 mu s for the fall time. Further, a high photoresponsivity of similar to 36.34 mA W-1 and excellent photodetectivity of similar to 6.04 x 10(14) Jones, with an enhancement of 725% in both due to the pyroelectric potential, were measured. This novel approach will open a new path to design transparent and ultrafast devices, as well as on the flexible substrates, for future optoelectronic applications.