Self-Driven UVC-NIR Broadband Photodetector with High-Temperature Reliability Based on a Coco Palm-Like MoS2/GaN Heterostructure

One of the dominant sources of energy production is burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), which emit different optical traces (ultraviolet to infrared). A self-driven broadband optical detector is essential for monitoring these optical signals in harsh environments because it is challenging to apply additional bias under high-temperature conditions. However, the existing optical detectors are constrained to operate at room temperature or require additional bias and present practical limitations in high-temperature operating environments. This study introduces a unique coco palm-like MoS2/GaN heterojunction-based self-powered photodetector that operates in the broadband spectral range from ultraviolet-C to near-infrared. The fabricated detector displays the highest responsivity of 379 mA W-1 under no applied bias at room temperature. The photodetector also exhibits consistent performance at high operating temperatures (up to 250 °C). Under self-driven conditions, the device possesses the highest responsivity of 360 mA W-1 at 250 °C. The heterostructure-based device also achieves the best responsivity of 2.8 × 106 mA W-1 at 8 V applied bias and has remarkable low-light detection abilities down to 9 femto-Watts. The high-temperature-operated self-driven broadband photodetector opens up possibilities for in situ monitoring of optical radiations from diverse industrial processes in challenging conditions and for optical signature-generating systems in the automobile, aerospace, and energy production industries.