Broadband ultraviolet photodetector based on rare-earth metal oxide Nd2O3

Abstract The detection of ultraviolet (UV) radiation holds significant importance in various fields. As the demand for superior detector performance grows alongside advancements in science and technology, there is a need for detectors with larger light-to-dark rejection ratios and lower standby power consumption. This paper presents the outstanding performance of the rare earth metal oxide Nd 2 O 3 in broadband UV detection. With a wide forbidden band width of 4.6 eV, eliminating the requirement for additional filters, Nd 2 O 3 emerges as an ideal material for broadband UV detectors. The device exhibits remarkable characteristics, including a dark current of only 1.66 × 10 −11 A at a 5 V bias voltage, a light-to-dark rejection ratio of 1.33 × 10 3 at 280 nm and 15 μ W cm −2 , a responsiveness of 0.061 A W −1 , and a detection rate of 4.7 × 10 12 Jones. Furthermore, the performance of the device can be significantly enhanced through the formation of a heterojunction with TiO 2 . The heterojunction device exhibits a shortened response time of 78.64%, a reduced recovery time of 88.97%, and an increased light-to-dark rejection ratio of 2.75 × 10 3 at a 5 V bias voltage. This significant improvement in performance highlights the potential of the Nd 2 O 3 /TiO 2 heterojunction in broadband UV detection.