A simple, repeatable and highly stable self-powered solar-blind photoelectrochemical-type photodetector using amorphous Ga2O3 films grown on 3D carbon fiber paper

Abstract

Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) has been extensively studied recently because it is a natural candidate material for next generation solar-blind deep ultraviolet photodetectors (PDs). In this study, three dimensional (3D) amorphous Ga₂O₃ films (a-Ga₂O₃) were grown on carbon fibre paper (CFP) using a facile one-pot sputtering method. The prepared a-Ga₂O₃/CFP core–shell composites were used as photoanode materials for a new type of solar-blind photoelectrochemical (PEC)-type photodetector. By constructing a solid/liquid heterojunction, the resulting built-in electric field can separate electron–hole pairs effectively, facilitating a self-powering ability in this PEC-type photodetector. The device exhibited a maximum responsivity of approximately 12.90 mA W⁻¹ and a rapid photoresponse time of around 0.15/0.13 s without external bias potential. Additionally, the PEC-type photodetector demonstrated outstanding stability after significant usage over a one-year period. The excellent performance of the fabricated a-Ga₂O₃/CFP core–shell photoanode, for self-powered PEC-type photodetectors, is extremely promising in the field of solar-blind photoelectric detection.