Efficient Terahertz detection in black-phosphorus nano-transistors with selective and controllable plasma-wave, bolometric and thermoelectric response

Abstract

The ability to convert light into an electrical signal with high efficiencies and controllable dynamics, is a major need in photonics and optoelectronics. In the Terahertz (THz) frequency range, with its exceptional application possibilities in high data rate wireless communications, security, night-vision, biomedical or video-imaging and gas sensing, detection technologies providing efficiency and sensitivity performances that can be “engineered” from scratch, remain elusive. Here, by exploiting the inherent electrical and thermal in-plane anisotropy of a flexible thin flake of black-phosphorus (BP), we devise plasma-wave, thermoelectric and bolometric nano-detectors with a selective, switchable and controllable operating mechanism. All devices operates at room-temperature and are integrated on-chip with planar nanoantennas, which provide remarkable efficiencies through light-harvesting in the strongly sub-wavelength device channel. The achieved selective detection (∼5–8 V/W responsivity) and sensitivity performances (signal-to-noise ratio of 500), are here exploited to demonstrate the first concrete application of a phosphorus-based active THz device, for pharmaceutical and quality control imaging of macroscopic samples, in real-time and in a realistic setting.

Quantum Confinement in High Electron Mobility Transistors

“…Furthermore, this design can also be used to detect THz frequencies. Various other 2D materials (like graphene [54][55][56] or black phosphorous [57,58]) are also used these days in the transistor configuration for developing THz detectors, simply utilizing the fast dynamics of the transistor design. These novel devices have thus helped to reduce the longdebated THz gap in the electromagnetic spectrum, where there is a severe lack of fast electronic devices.…”

Dual-Polarized Multi-Band Infrared Energy Harvesting Using H-Shaped Metasurface Absorber

“…An optical rectenna consists of a nano antenna to capture solar radiation and a rectifier, Metal Insulator Metal (MIM) diode [8], to convert the captured energy to useful DC power. The recent advancements in nanotechnology enabled the possibility to fabricate optical antennas and other terahertz devices [9][10][11] with a broad range of potential applications [12][13][14][15][16]. The fact that optical rectennas can capture solar energy during the day and night with wideband reception and higher theoretical conversion efficiency make them advantageous over photovoltaic technology.…”

A Plasmonic Monopole Antenna Array on Flexible Photovoltaic Panels for Further Use of the Green Energy Harvesting

“…For example, in [3][4][5], the application of thermos-plasmonic in membrane energy process was discussed. Nevertheless, such a technology led to design efficient Terahertz detectors with a thermoelectric response [6]. Such phenomena can be characterized by edge or surface-states, i.e., the electrons move along the surface of plasmonic structures instead of their inside [7].…”