Heterojunction photodetector based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been realized using a spin coating technique. The electrical and optical characterization of bare GO and thermally reduced GO thin films deposited on glass substrate has been carried out. Ultraviolet–visible–infrared transmittance measurements of the GO and rGO thin films revealed broad absorption range, while the absorbance analysis evaluates rGO band gap of about 2.8 eV. The effect of GO reduction process on the photoresponse capability is reported. The current–voltage characteristics and the responsivity of rGO/n-Si based device have been investigated using laser diode wavelengths from UV up to IR spectral range. An energy band diagram of the heterojunction has been proposed to explain the current versus voltage characteristics. The device demonstrates a photoresponse at a broad spectral range with a maximum responsivity and detectivity of 0.20 A/W and 7 × 10¹⁰ cmHz/W, respectively. Notably, the obtained results indicate that the rGO based device can be useful for broadband radiation detection compatible with silicon device technology.

The dynamic instability of the moving vortex lattice at high driving currents in NbN/CuNi-based and NbN nanostripes designed for optical detection has been studied. By applying the model proposed by Larkin and Ovchinnikov [Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, 1915 (1975)], from the critical velocity v* for the occurrence of the instability, it was possible to estimate the values of the quasiparticle relaxation times $\tau${}E. The results show that the NbN/CuNi-based devices are characterized by shorter values of $\tau${}E compared to that of NbN.

The attention of the present paper is focused on the use of an infrared imaging device to monitor the thermal response of composite materials under cyclic bending. Three types of composites are considered including an epoxy matrix reinforced with either carbon fibres (CFRP) or glass fibres (GFRP) and a hybrid composite involving glass fibres and aluminium layers (FRML). The specimen surface, under bending, displays temperature variations pursuing the load variations with cooling down under tension and warming up under compression; such temperature variations are in agreement with the bending moment. It has been observed that the amplitude of temperature variations over the specimen surface depends on the material characteristics. In particular, the presence of a defect inside the material affects the temperature distribution with deviation from the usual bending moment trend.