Cost‐Effective and Flexible Scalable Fabrication of WO₃ UV Photodetectors with Enhanced Performance via Integrated LIG Electrodes

Abstract

The emerging flexible device technologies have fascinated the modern optoelectronic industry owing to their invincible properties such as wearable, stretchable, smart, energy‐efficient, scalability, cost‐effective, and high performance. However, there is still room for improvements such as performance, reliability, and mass production. This research work fabricates laser‐induced graphene (LIG) interdigitated electrodes based on flexible UV photodetectors over polyimide substrate, using solution‐processed tungsten oxide (WO3) thin film as photoactive material. The best device performance is achieved through the optimization of laser power for the deposition of LIG, as well as a different solvent for WO3. The device shows excellent photoresponsivity, external quantum efficiency, and specific detectivity of 500 mA W−1, 164%, and 3.09 × 1012 Jones, respectively. Moreover, a fast response time, such as 0.3 ms for 375 nm light, is observed. This study offers a comprehensive elucidation of the intricate process through which photoelectrons are moved toward WO3 facilitated by the electric field present at the interface of the LIG and WO3.