JNCASR scientists fabricate energy-efficient photodetector for security application

Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have fabricated an economical and energy-efficient wafer-scale photodetector (thin slice-based) using gold – silicon interface, for security applications.

It could help detect weak scattered light as an indication of unwanted activity.

The gold (Au)-silicon (n-Si) interface shows high sensitivity towards light demonstrating the photodetection action.

The method is highly economical and enables large-area fabrication without compromising the detector response.

The process of fabrication is quick and takes only minutes to fabricate a detector of any arbitrary area.

The detector exhibits a rapid response of 40 microseconds and can detect low light intensities. The device covers a broad spectral range from Ultraviolet to Infrared.

The detector operates in the self-powered mode so that it does not require external power for its operation and makes it energy efficient.

The device is also environmentally stable and can be used under harsh conditions for several days.