Single-crystalline Sb2S3 microtubes for high-performance broadband visible photodetection

Abstract

Antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) holds great promise for optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications, attributed to its optimal bandgap (1.5–2.2 eV) and unique physicochemical properties. Notably, one-dimensional single-crystalline Sb₂S₃ demonstrates exceptional charge transport capabilities due to its directional transport properties and significantly reduced grain boundaries. In this work, we present the controlled synthesis of Sb₂S₃ microtubes through a hydrothermal reaction process utilizing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as a structure-directing agent. These microtubes, characterized by lengths of up to 230 μm and diameters of approximately 8 μm, exhibit excellent crystal quality and smooth surfaces, facilitating their integration into device fabrication processes. The resulting single Sb₂S₃ microtube-based photodetector device demonstrates broadband visible photodetection capabilities, featuring a high responsivity (82 A/W), an external quantum efficiency of 1.3 × 10⁴%, short rise/decay times during switching (9.8 ms/9.2 ms), and a high detectivity of 7.6 × 10¹⁰ Jones. Furthermore, the device exhibits responsiveness across the monochromatic light spectrum ranging from 350 to 800 nm, with a particularly notable switching ratio of 82.2 observed at 722 nm.