Ultraviolet (UV) detectors have attracted considerable attention in the past decade due to their extensive applications in the civil and military fields. Wide bandgap semiconductor-based UV detectors can detect UV light effectively, and nanowire structures can greatly improve the sensitivity of sensors with many quantum effects. This review summarizes recent developments in the classification and principles of UV detectors, i.e., photoconductive type, Schottky barrier type, metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) type, p-n junction type and p-i-n junction type. The current state of the art in wide bandgap semiconductor materials suitable for producing nanowires for use in UV detectors, i.e., metallic oxide, III-nitride and SiC, during the last five years is also summarized. Finally, novel types of UV detectors such as hybrid nanostructure detectors, self-powered detectors and flexible detectors are introduced.

(1 − x )KNN– x BCZT-based transparent ceramics with a W _rec of 7.83 J cm ⁻³ and an η of 81.02% were obtained. High polarization boundaries and conductive mechanism transition were revealed to be the main reasons for such good performances.

Ultralong, as long as ∼1 mm, orthorhombic vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) nanowires were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Free-standing and binder-free composite paper was prepared on a large scale by a two-step reduction method using free-standing V₂O₅ nanowires as the skeleton and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets as the additive. Such a free-standing V₂O₅/rGO composite paper as a cathode for lithium ion batteries possesses both structural integrity and extraordinary electrochemical performance. The reversible specific areal capacity of the V₂O₅/rGO composite paper electrode is 885 μAh/cm² at 0.09 mA/cm², much higher than that of the pure V₂O₅ nanowire paper electrode (570 μAh/cm²). It also shows excellent cycling performance at high rates with 30.9% loss of its initial capacities after 1000 cycles at a current rate of 0.9 mA/cm². The excellent performance was attributed to the improved electronic conductivity and Li⁺ ion transport from the rGO addition.

Pb(Zr,Ti)O ₃ nanorod arrays with outstanding piezoelectric response and a high d ₃₃ of 1600 pm V ⁻¹ were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal process.

The CaHfO ₃ -modified BiFeO ₃ –BaTiO ₃ lead-free ceramic exhibiting superior recoverable energy storage density of 4.70 J cm ⁻³ and efficiency of 79% can be considered as an excellent candidate for energy storage applications.