Broadband high photoresponse from pure monolayer graphene photodetector

• Published in: Nature communications 2013-05, Vol.4 (1), p.1811-1811, Article 1811
• Main Authors: Zhang, By Yongzhe, Liu, Tao, Meng, Bo, Li, Xiaohui, Liang, Guozhen, Hu, Xiaonan, Wang, Qi Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/624/1075/1083; 639/925/918; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2830

Graphene has attracted large interest in photonic applications owing to its promising optical properties, especially its ability to absorb light over a broad wavelength range, which has lead to several studies on pure monolayer graphene-based photodetectors. However, the maximum responsivity of these photodetectors is below 10 mA W −1 , which significantly limits their potential for applications. Here we report high photoresponsivity (with high photoconductive gain) of 8.61 A W −1 in pure monolayer graphene photodetectors, about three orders of magnitude higher than those reported in the literature, by introducing electron trapping centres and by creating a bandgap in graphene through band structure engineering. In addition, broadband photoresponse with high photoresponsivity from the visible to the mid-infrared is experimentally demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this work demonstrates the broadest photoresponse with high photoresponsivity from pure monolayer graphene photodetectors, proving the potential of graphene as a promising material for efficient optoelectronic devices. Graphene holds great potential for use in photodetectors, owing to its ability to absorb light over a wide range of wavelengths. Here Zhang et al . report a large photoresponsivity of 8.6 AW-1 over a broad wavelength range in pure monolayer graphene.