A polarization-sensitive, self-powered, broadband and fast Ti₃C₂T_x MXene photodetector from visible to near-infrared driven by photogalvanic effects

Abstract

Broadband, self-power, and polarization-sensitivity are desirable qualities for a photodetector. However, currently few photodetectors can fulfill these requirements simultaneously. Here, we propose a Ti₃C₂T_x (MXene) photodetector that is driven by the photogalvanic effect with impressive performances. A polarization-sensitive photocurrent is generated at zero bias under the illumination of linearly polarized laser light of 1064 nm, with an extinction ratio of 1.11. Meanwhile, a fast response with a 32/28 ms rise/decay time and a large on/off switching ratio of 120 are achieved. Besides, a robust zero-bias photocurrent is also generated in the photodetector under the illumination of 940 and 620 nm light, as well as the white light, showing a broadband photoresponse from the near-infrared to visible. Moreover, quantum transport simulations indicate that the photogalvanic effect plays an important role in the generation of the polarized photocurrent at zero bias due to the broken space inversion symmetry of the stacked few-layer Ti₃C₂T_x. Our results shed light on a potential application of the Ti₃C₂T_x–MXene in the low-power photodetection with high performances.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

photodetection / polarization-sensitivity / photogalvanic effects / Ti₃C₂T_x / MXene / quantum transport simulations

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