Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences

Abstract

The review includes results of analyses and research aimed at standardizing the concepts and measurement procedures associated with photodetector parameters. Photodetectors are key components that ensure the conversion of incoming optical radiation into an electrical signal in a wide variety of sophisticated optoelectronic systems and everyday devices, such as smartwatches and systems that measure the composition of the Martian atmosphere. Semiconductor detectors are presented, and they play a major role due to their excellent optical and electrical parameters as well as physical parameters, stability, and long mean time to failure. As their performance depends on the manufacturing technology and internal architecture, different types of photodetectors are described first. The following parts of the article concern metrological aspects related to their characterization. All the basic parameters have been defined, which are useful both for their users and their developers. This allows for the verification of photodetectors' workmanship quality, the capabilities of a given technology, and, above all, suitability for a specific application and the performance of the final optoelectronic system. Experimentally validated meteorological models and equivalent diagrams, which are necessary for the correct analysis of parameter measurements, are also presented. The current state of knowledge presented in recognized scientific papers and the results of the authors' works are described as well.

Photodiode behavior and capacitive performance of ZnO nanoflakes synthesized by electrochemical deposition

“…While the level of R sh is about 10 7 Ω, the level of R s is about 10 4 Ω. While the R sh value is in good agreement with optoelectronic applications, the R s value is higher than expected [10]. This higher R s value can be attributed to the non-homogeneous film structure of the flakes.…”

“…These applications usually require good optical sensors, such as sensitive photodetectors to receive data without decay from noise [9]. Various photodetectors, such as p-n photodiodes, pi-n photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes or Schottky-type photodiodes, are generally used commercially for the detection of light [10]. They have advantages or disadvantages according to their properties.…”