High-performance and environmentally friendly circularly polarized light direct detection based on ZnO nanowires and chiral cellulose nanocrystals

Abstract

Circularly polarized light (CPL) detection, as an emerging technology, holds significant potential for various applications including quantum communication, stereo optics, and drug synthesis. Notably, the unique response of chiral materials to CPL enables direct detection without relying on complex optical instrument systems. However, a major challenge lies in the intricate synthesis processes of most chiral materials, coupled with their limited ability to discriminate CPL. In our research, we present an alternative approach by employing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as chiral materials. CNCs are natural and environmentally friendly materials, unlike complex synthetic organic chiral materials or chiral perovskites. Our findings demonstrate that the CNC film, synthesized through evaporation-induced self-assembly of CNC suspension, exhibits selective transmission of right-handed CPL. Moreover, we developed a high-performance CPL detector based on a CNC-ZnO nanowire array. The detector exhibits exceptional characteristics, including a photosensitivity of 3.68, a responsivity of 0.58 A W⁻¹, a specific detection rate of 1.29 × 10¹² Jones and an external quantum efficiency of 69.42%. It also demonstrates a rapid response speed (1.53 s) and a high asymmetry factor of 0.36, surpassing the majority of similar studies in the field. Based on the above performance, we propose an optical communication method based on ASCII coding, which shows great potential for optical communication applications. Furthermore, our detector demonstrates effective detection capabilities for other phases of elliptically polarized light. We also propose a simple and efficient multi-layer structure employing a bottom–up manufacturing method with a high success rate and straightforward processes. The design concept put forward in this paper holds significant value for the integration, high performance, and environmental sustainability of CPL detectors.