Self‐Powered Photodetectors Based on 2D Materials

TLDR

Self‑powered photodetectors, especially those based on 2D materials, enable photodetection without external power and offer high photoresponsivity, fast response, low dark current, and large on/off ratios, with 2D materials classified into p–n junction, Schottky junction, and photoelectrochemical types. This review summarizes the research progress of 2D‑material self‑powered photodetectors from these three perspectives and outlines future development directions. The authors analyze the self‑driving mechanisms of the three device types—p–n junction, Schottky junction, and photoelectrochemical photodetectors—to detail how 2D materials enable self‑powered operation. The reviewed devices demonstrate excellent self‑powered photoresponse, wideband spectral sensitivity, and promising optoelectronic applications.

Abstract

Abstract Self‐powered photodetectors are considered as a new type of photodetectors enabling self‐powered photodetection without external power. The excellent photoresponsivity, fast photoresponse rate, low dark current, and large light on/off ratio of these photodetectors have attracted wide interest among scholars. 2D materials are widely used in self‐powered photodetectors due to their excellent optical and electrical properties, unique 2D structures, and their capabilities to exhibit excellent photodetection performance. According to the self‐driving mechanism of 2D material‐based self‐powered photodetectors, they are divided into three categories: p–n junction photodetectors, Schottky junction photodetectors, and photoelectrochemical photodetectors. From these three perspectives, the research progress of 2D material‐based self‐powered photodetectors is summarized in detail here. Research reports indicate that 2D material‐based self‐powered photodetectors have excellent self‐powered photoresponse behavior, good light on/off characteristics, and wideband spectral response ranges. The excellent photoresponse performance of 2D material‐based self‐powered photodetectors facilitates their potential applications in the field of optoelectronic devices. In particular, self‐powered photodetectors have great potential as novel emerging self‐driven optoelectronic devices. Finally, directions for the further development of 2D material‐based self‐powered photodetectors are anticipated.