Recent Progress in Photodetectors: From Materials to Structures and Applications

Photodetectors are critical components in a wide range of applications, from imaging and sensing to communications and environmental monitoring. Recent advancements in material science have led to the development of emerging photodetecting materials, such as perovskites, polymers, novel two-dimensional materials, and quantum dots, which offer unique optoelectronic properties and high tunability. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the synthesis methodologies for these cutting-edge materials, highlighting their potential to enhance photodetection performance. Additionally, we explore the design and fabrication of photodetectors with novel structures and physics, emphasizing devices that achieve high figure-of-merit parameters, such as enhanced sensitivity, fast response times, and broad spectral detection. Finally, we discuss the demonstration of new applications enabled by these advanced photodetectors, including flexible and wearable devices, next-generation imaging systems, and environmental sensing technologies. Through this review, we aim to provide insights into the current trends and future directions in the field of photodetection, guiding further research and development in this rapidly evolving area.