Controlling Photothermoelectric Directional Photocurrents in Graphene with over 400 GHz Bandwidth

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Aug 26

PMID 39187480

Authors

Stefan M Koepfli

Michael Baumann

Robin Gadola

Shadi Nashashibi

Yesim Koyaz

Daniel Rieben

Arif Can Gungor

Michael Doderer

Killian Keller

Yuriy Fedoryshyn

Juerg Leuthold

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Photodetection in the near- and mid-infrared spectrum requires a suitable absorbing material able to meet the respective targets while ideally being cost-effective. Graphene, with its extraordinary optoelectronic properties, could provide a material basis simultaneously serving both regimes. The zero-band gap offers almost wavelength independent absorption which lead to photodetectors operating in the infrared spectrum. However, to keep noise low, a detection mechanism with fast and zero bias operation would be needed. Here, we show a self-powered graphene photodetector with a > 400 GHz frequency response. The device combines a metamaterial perfect absorber architecture with graphene, where asymmetric resonators induce photothermoelectric directional photocurrents within the graphene channel. A quasi-instantaneous response linked to the photothermoelectric effect is found. Typical drift/diffusion times optimization are not needed for a high-speed response. Our results demonstrate that these photothermoelectric directional photocurrents have the potential to outperform the bandwidth of many other graphene photodetectors and most conventional technologies.

Citing Articles

Enhanced coupling of perovskites with semiconductive properties by tuning multi-modal optically active nanostructured set-ups for photonics, photovoltaics and energy applications.

Elyamny S, Bracamonte A RSC Adv. 2025; 15(7):5571-5596.

PMID: 40007863 PMC: 11851274. DOI: 10.1039/d5ra00458f.

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