A high performance self-powered heterojunction photodetector based on NiO nanosheets on an n-Si (100) modified substrate

Abstract A self-powered ultraviolet-visible photodetector based on NiO/Si heterojunctions made from NiO nanosheets on a Si (100) modified substrate was successfully manufactured via a facile hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination process. The fabricated detectors not only response to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, but also possess excellent photocurrents and a lower dark current. The good performance, i.e., the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ∼ 22.4% and 33.1% under 350 nm and 600 nm, respectively, at zero bias, superior to most reported NiO/Si photodetectors, could be ascribed to the good crystalline NiO nanosheets and the suitable n-Si (100) substrate. Therefore, as-fabricated self-powered broadband detectors have a great potential application in wearable and portable devices.