Intersubband Quantum Disc-in-Nanowire Photodetectors with Normal-Incidence Response in the Long-Wavelength Infrared

Abstract

Semiconductor nanowires have great potential for realizing broadband photodetectors monolithically integrated with silicon. However, the spectral range of such detectors has so far been limited to selected regions in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions. Here, we report on the first intersubband nanowire heterostructure array photodetectors exhibiting a spectrally resolved photoresponse from the visible to long-wavelength infrared. In particular, the infrared response from 3 to 20 μm is enabled by intersubband transitions in low-bandgap InAsP quantum discs synthesized axially within InP nanowires. The intriguing optical characteristics, including unexpected sensitivity to normal incident radiation, are explained by excitation of the longitudinal component of optical modes in the photonic crystal formed by the nanostructured portion of the detectors. Our results provide a generalizable insight into how broadband nanowire photodetectors may be designed and how engineered nanowire heterostructures open up new, fascinating opportunities for optoelectronics.

Review on III-V Semiconductor Single Nanowire-Based Room Temperature Infrared Photodetectors

“…To further extend the nanowire photodetector photoresponse range to long-wavelength infrared (LWIR), 0-dimensional (0D) nanomaterials, such as semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and quantum wells (QWs), could be incorporated into nanowire structures. Synthesis of single or multiple low-bandgap InAsP quantum discs (QDiscs) within an InP nanowire axially was demonstrated by Karimi et al such that the intersubband transitions in the conduction band of the InAsP QDiscs enabled broad infrared response ranging from 3 to 20 µm [111].…”

Circular Polarization Discrimination Enhanced by Anisotropic Media

“…The contrast between LCP and RCP light is due to the interference between the polarization‐unconverted field and the polarization‐converted field. [ 13,60 ] For LCP, the interference is destructive in the reflection, so the incident light is efficiently converted into the coupled SPP wave, whereas for RCP the interference is constructive, so the incident light is mostly reflected and the coupled SPP wave is not efficiently excited. This discrimination between LCP and RCP stems from the asymmetry of the twisted metal strips and is significantly enlarged by the cavity between the layer of strips and the bottom metal plane due to multiple reflection interference (details in Notes S2 and S3, Supporting Information).…”

“…[ 39,41,54,55 ] In our case, the encapsulation of the nanowire array in a flat layer could also facilitate the fabrication of the twisted metal strips on the top. With the help of the transfer technique, [ 39,41,50,54–60 ] the InAsSb nanowire array could be released from the growth substrate and then sandwiched between a metal plane and a layer of twisted metal strips ( Figure a).…”

Quantifying the impact of phonon scattering on electrical and thermal transport in quantum dots

“…During the last decades, there has been a large amount of research on the electronic properties and electron transport in nanostructure devices [1][2][3][4]. A tremendous progress has been made in this area and new exciting optical, electronic, and thermoelectric applications have been suggested [5][6][7][8][9].…”