A high performance self-powered photodetector based on a 1D Te–2D WS2 mixed-dimensional heterostructure

One-dimensional (1D)–two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdWs) mixed-dimensional heterostructures with advantages of an atomically sharp interface, high quality and good compatibility have attracted tremendous attention in recent years. Herein, a mixed-dimensional vertical heterostructure is constructed by transferring mechanically exfoliated 2D WS2 nanosheets on epitaxially grown 1D tellurium (Te) microwires. According to the theoretical type-II band alignment, the device exhibits a photovoltaic effect and serves as an excellent self-powered photodetector with a maximum open-circuit voltage (Voc) up to ∼0.2 V. Upon 635 nm light illumination, the photoresponsivity, external quantum efficiency and detectivity of the self-powered photodetector (SPPD) are calculated to be 471 mA W−1, 91% and 1.24 × 1012 Jones, respectively. Moreover, the dark current of the SPPD is highly suppressed to the sub-pA level due to the large lateral built-in electric field, which leads to a high Ilight/Idark ratio of 104 with a rise time of 25 ms and decay time of 14.7 ms. The abovementioned properties can be further enhanced under a negative bias of −2 V. In brief, the 1D Te–2D WS2 mixed-dimensional heterostructures have great application potential in high performance photodetectors and photovoltaics.