Broadband ultraviolet photodetector based on rare-earth metal oxide Nd₂O₃

Abstract

The detection of ultraviolet (UV) radiation holds significant importance in various fields. As the demand for superior detector performance grows alongside advancements in science and technology, there is a need for detectors with larger light-to-dark rejection ratios and lower standby power consumption. This paper presents the outstanding performance of the rare earth metal oxide Nd2O3 in broadband UV detection. With a wide forbidden band width of 4.6 eV, eliminating the requirement for additional filters, Nd2O3 emerges as an ideal material for broadband UV detectors. The device exhibits remarkable characteristics, including a dark current of only 1.66 × 10−11 A at a 5 V bias voltage, a light-to-dark rejection ratio of 1.33 × 103 at 280 nm and 15 μW cm−2, a responsiveness of 0.061 A W−1, and a detection rate of 4.7 × 1012 Jones. Furthermore, the performance of the device can be significantly enhanced through the formation of a heterojunction with TiO2. The heterojunction device exhibits a shortened response time of 78.64%, a reduced recovery time of 88.97%, and an increased light-to-dark rejection ratio of 2.75 × 103 at a 5 V bias voltage. This significant improvement in performance highlights the potential of the Nd2O3/TiO2 heterojunction in broadband UV detection.