Facile synthesis of Cu--In--Zn--S alloy nanospheres for fast photoelectric detection across the visible spectrum

Abstract

Fast and broadband photoelectric detection is a key process to many photoelectronic applications, during which the semiconductor light absorber plays a critical role. In this report, we prepared Cu–In–Zn–S (CIZS) nanospheres with different compositions via a facile hydrothermal method. These nanospheres were ~200 nm in size and comprised of many small nanocrystals. A photodetector responded to the visible spectrum was demonstrated by spraying the solution processed nanospheres onto gold interdigital electrodes. The photoelectric characterization of these devices revealed that CIZS nanospheres with low molar ratio of n(Cu)/n(In) exhibited improved photoelectric response compared to those with high n(Cu)/n(In), which was attributed to the reduced defects. The relatively large switching ratio (I_on/I_off), fast response and wide spectral coverage of the CIZS-based photodetector render it a promising potential candidate for photoelectronic applications.

Keywords

chalcogenides / Cu--In--Zn--S nanospheres / solvothermal / photoelectric detection

References

[1] Armin A, Jansen-van Vuuren R D, Kopidakis N, . Narrowband light detection via internal quantum efficiency manipulation of organic photodiodes. Nature Communications, 2015, 6(1): 6343

[2] Xie C, Yan F. Flexible photodetectors based on novel functional materials. Small, 2017, 13(43): 1701822

[3] García de Arquer F P, Armin A, Meredith P, . Solution-processed semiconductors for next-generation photodetectors. Nature Reviews Materials, 2017, 2(3): 16100

[4] Qiu T, Hu Y, Xu F, . Recent advances in one-dimensional halide perovskites for optoelectronic applications. Nanoscale, 2018, 10(45): 20963–20989

[5] Wang H, Kim D H. Perovskite-based photodetectors: materials and devices. Chemical Society Reviews, 2017, 46(17): 5204–5236

[6] Baeg K J, Binda M, Natali D, . Organic light detectors: photodiodes and phototransistors. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25(31): 4267–4295

[7] Bao C, Zhu W, Yang J, . Highly flexible self-powered organolead trihalide perovskite photodetectors with gold nanowire networks as transparent electrodes. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8(36): 23868–23875

[8] Litvin A P, Martynenko I V, Purcell-Milton F, . Colloidal quantum dots for optoelectronics. Journal of Materials Chemistry A: Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2017, 5(26): 13252–13275

[9] Dong Y, Zou Y, Song J, . Recent progress of metal halide perovskite photodetectors. Journal of Materials Chemistry C: Materials for Optical and Electronic Devices, 2017, 5(44): 11369–11394

[10] De Iacovo A, Venettacci C, Colace L, . PbS colloidal quantum dot photodetectors operating in the near infrared. Scientific Reports, 2016, 6(1): 37913

[11] Yarema O, Bozyigit D, Rousseau I, . Highly luminescent, size- and shape-tunable copper indium selenide based colloidal nanocrystals. Chemistry of Materials, 2013, 25(18): 3753–3757

[12] Lin Y, Zhang F, Pan D. A facile route to (ZnS)_x(CuInS₂)_1−x hierarchical microspheres with excellent water-splitting ability. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2012, 22(42): 22619–22623

[13] Chinen A B, Guan C M, Ferrer J R, . Nanoparticle probes for the detection of cancer biomarkers, cells, and tissues by fluorescence. Chemical Reviews, 2015, 115(19): 10530–10574

[14] Liu S, Su X. The synthesis and application of I–III–VI type quantum dots. RSC Advances, 2014, 4(82): 43415–43428

[15] Li F, Guo C, Pan R, . Integration of green CuInS₂/ZnS quantum dots for high-efficiency light-emitting diodes and high-responsivity photodetectors. Optical Materials Express, 2018, 8(2): 314–323

[16] Lu M L, Lai C W, Pan H J, . A facile integration of zero- (I–III–VI quantum dots) and one- (single SnO₂ nanowire) dimensional nanomaterials: fabrication of a nanocomposite photodetector with ultrahigh gain and wide spectral response. Nano Letters, 2013, 13(5): 1920–1927

[17] Xu R, Ruan S, Zhang D, . Enhanced performance of ultraviolet photodetector modified by quantum dots with high responsivity and narrow detection region. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2018, 751: 117–123

[18] Yarema O, Yarema M, Wood V. Tuning the composition of multicomponent semiconductor nanocrystals: The case of I–III–VI materials. Chemistry of Materials, 2018, 30(5): 1446–1461

[19] Zu Z, Hu W, Tang X, . A facile method for synthesizing AgInZnS/RGO nanocomposites and their photoelectric detection application. Materials Letters, 2016, 182: 240–243

[20] Wei J, Zang Z, Zhang Y, . Enhanced performance of light-controlled conductive switching in hybrid cuprous oxide/reduced graphene oxide (Cu₂O/rGO) nanocomposites. Optics Letters, 2017, 42(5): 911–914

[21] Tang X, Zu Z, Zang Z, . CsPbBr₃/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites and their enhanced photoelectric detection application. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2017, 245: 435–440

[22] Zhang S, Wang X, Chen Y, . Ultrasensitive hybrid MoS₂–ZnCdSe quantum dot photodetectors with high gain. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019, 11(26): 23667–23672

[23] Wu H, Si H, Zhang Z, . All-inorganic perovskite quantum dot-monolayer MoS₂ mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructure for ultrasensitive photodetector. Advanced Science, 2018, 5(12): 1801219

[24] Guo R, Huang F, Zheng K, . CuInSe₂ quantum dots hybrid hole transfer layer for halide perovskite photodetectors. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2018, 10(41): 35656–35663

[25] Sun H, Tian W, Cao F, . Ultrahigh-performance self-powered flexible double-twisted fibrous broadband perovskite photodetector. Advanced Materials, 2018, 30(21): 1706986

[26] Tang X, Zu Z, Shao H, . All-inorganic perovskite CsPb(Br/I)₃ nanorods for optoelectronic application. Nanoscale, 2016, 8(33): 15158–15161

[27] Chandrasekar P V, Yang S, Hu J, . A one-step method to synthesize CH₃NH₃PbI₃:MoS₂ nanohybrids for high-performance solution-processed photodetectors in the visible region. Nanotechnology, 2019, 30(8): 085707

[28] Maurya M R, Toutam V. Fast response UV detection based on waveguide characteristics of vertically grown ZnO nanorods partially embedded in anodic alumina template. Nanotechnology, 2019, 30(8): 085704

[29] Tang X, Tay Q, Chen Z, . Cu–In–Zn–S nanoporous spheres for highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. New Journal of Chemistry, 2013, 37(7): 1878–1882

[30] Li Y, Chen G, Wang Q, . Hierarchical ZnS–In₂S₃–CuS nanospheres with nanoporous structure: facile synthesis, growth mechanism, and excellent photocatalytic activity. Advanced Functional Materials, 2010, 20(19): 3390–3398

[31] Zheng Z, Zhuge F, Wang Y, . Decorating perovskite quantum dots in TiO₂ nanotubes array for broadband response photodetector. Advanced Functional Materials, 2017, 27(43): 1703115

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press