Broadband photodetectors with self-driven functions have attracted intensive scientific interest due to their low energy consumption and high optical gain. However, high-performance broadband self-driven photodetectors are still a significant challenge due to the complex fabrication processes, environmental toxicity, high production costs of traditional 3D semiconductor materials and sharply raised contact resistance, severe interfacial recombination of 2D materials and 2D/3D mixed dimension heterojunction. Here, 1D p-Te/2D n-Bi₂Te₃ heterojunctions are constructed by the simple and low-cost hydrothermal method. 1D p-Te/2D n-Bi₂Te₃ devices are applied in photoelectrochemical (PEC) photodetectors, with their high performance attributed to the good interfacial contacts reducing interface recombination. The device demonstrated a broad wavelength range (365–850 nm) with an/_ph//_dark as high as 377.45. The R_iD*, and external quantum efficiency (EQE) values of the device were as high as 12.07 mA/W, 5.87 × 10¹⁰ Jones, and 41.05%, respectively, which were significantly better than the performance of the prepared Bi₂Te₃ and Te devices. A comparison of the freshly fabricated device and the device after 30 days showed that 1D p-Te/2D n-Bi₂Te₃ had excellent stability with only 18.08% decay of photocurrent. It is anticipated that this work will provide new emerging material for future design and preparation of a high-performance self-driven broadband photodetector.

Advanced infrared optoelectronic devices fabricated using antimony-based type-II superlattices have progressed significantly in recent years. However, fundamental challenges remain in the understanding of the exciton recombination mechanism associated with these superlattice structures and in the exploration of efficient methods to suppress the effects of native defects and thus prolong carrier lifetimes. We have investigated the optical properties of high-quality InAs/In0.5Ga0.5As0.5Sb0.5 type-II superlattices in the long-wave infrared band (6–9 μm), where a significant carrier localization phenomenon was observed via temperature- and excitation-power-dependent photoluminescence measurements. The carrier distribution with respect to temperature, including the anomalous temperature dependences of the peak energy, the full width at half maximum, and the integrated intensities, were identified and explained using the localized-state ensemble luminescence model. We also observed a large radiative to nonradiative recombination ratio (∼42.6) by analyzing localized-state ensemble equations in type-II superlattices. Finally, the InAs/In0.5Ga0.5As0.5Sb0.5 superlattice showed long minority carrier lifetimes of up to 847 ns. These results show that the prepared InAs/In0.5Ga0.5As0.5Sb0.5 superlattices have excellent optical properties compared with existing type-II superlattices and have great potential for infrared optoelectronic applications.

Unlike conventional bulk or film materials, one-dimensional (1D) semiconducting zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures exhibit excellent photoelectric properties including ultrahigh intrinsic photoelectric gain, multiple light confinement, and subwavelength size effects. Compared with polycrystalline thin films, nanowires usually have high phase purity, no grain boundaries, and long-distance order, making them attractive for carrier transport in advanced optoelectronic devices. The properties of one-dimensional nanowires—such as strong optical absorption, light emission, and photoconductive gain—could improve the performance of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors, solar cells, nanogenerators, field-effect transistors, and sensors. For example, ZnO nanowires behave as carrier transport channels in photoelectric devices, decreasing the loss of the light-generated carrier. The performance of LEDs and photoelectric detectors based on nanowires can be improved compared with that of devices based on polycrystalline thin films. This article reviews the fabrication methods of 1D ZnO nanostructures—including chemical vapor deposition, hydrothermal reaction, and electrochemical deposition—and the influence of the growth parameters on the growth rate and morphology. Important applications of 1D ZnO nanostructures in optoelectronic devices are described. Several approaches to improve the performance of 1D ZnO-based devices, including surface passivation, localized surface plasmons, and the piezo-phototronic effect, are summarized.

In recent years, rare-earth metals with triply oxidized state, lanthanide ions (Ln³⁺), have been demonstrated as dopants, which can efficiently improve the optical and electronic properties of metal halide perovskite materials. On the one hand, doping Ln³⁺ ions can convert near-infrared/ultraviolet light into visible light through the process of up-/down-conversion and then the absorption efficiency of solar spectrum by perovskite solar cells can be significantly increased, leading to high device power conversion efficiency. On the other hand, multi-color light emissions and white light emissions originated from perovskite nanocrystals can be realized via inserting Ln³⁺ ions into the perovskite crystal lattice, which functioned as quantum cutting. In addition, doping or co-doping Ln³⁺ ions in perovskite films or devices can effectively facilitate perovskite film growth, tailor the energy band alignment and passivate the defect states, resulting in improved charge carrier transport efficiency or reduced nonradiative recombination. Finally, Ln³⁺ ions have also been used in the fields of photodetectors and luminescent solar concentrators. These indicate the huge potential of rare-earth metals in improving the perovskite optoelectronic device performances.