Two-dimensional materials polarization-sensitive photodetectors

“

The study of polarization-sensitive photodetectors based on 2D materials has been a vibrant field, with continuous advancements in performance. Despite the progress, there are several frontiers that offer potential for significant breakthroughs in this domain. First, the majority of anisotropic 2D materials currently in use are limited to one or two elements. Ternary compounds are known for their intriguing anisotropic characteristics and present a largely untapped area of research. Expanding the exploration into ternary anisotropic 2D materials could be a promising avenue for future studies. Second, while theoretical calculations have been conducted on polarization-sensitive photodetectors through defects and doping methods, experimental validation is still in the infancy. Consequently, the experimental approach could be initiated in this direction, employing vacancy and doping techniques to modify the intrinsic anisotropy of 2D materials. This targeted manipulation holds the potential to significantly enhance the performance capabilities of photodetectors. Third, the heterojunction polarization-sensitive photodetectors that are currently prevalent often include an anisotropic 2D material as a component of the junction. While this simplifies much research challenges, it may also reduce the polarization ratio due to the inclusion of isotropic materials. Future research could benefit from developing heterojunction photodetectors that integrate multiple anisotropic 2D materials to maintain or even enhance anisotropy. Fourth, isotropic 2D materials have the potential to achieve polarization sensitivity by altering their morphological attributes or leveraging surface plasmon resonance to disrupt their in-plane absorption symmetry. Integrating these technologies could further refine the polarization sensitivity of photodetectors by breaking the inherent absorption symmetry of 2D materials. The current polarization-sensitive photodetectors that leverage anisotropic 2D materials are predominantly focused on the detection of linearly polarized light. The capability to sense circularly polarized light, which typically involves the use of chiral organic molecules or chiral structures, remains an area ripe for innovation. Moving forward, the development of anisotropic 2D material-based photodetectors should pivot toward embracing the detection of both circularly and partially polarized light. This strategic expansion will not only diversify the photodetector functional scope but also enhance their relevance and effectiveness in a multitude of scientific and technological applications.

”