Towards tunable and scalable black phosphorus photodetectors

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Black phosphorus is a stable allotrope of phosphorus that exhibits a layered structure that can be exfoliated,**like graphene, down to a single monolayer. This elemental 2D semiconductor offers several distinctive**features: remarkably high carrier mobilities, an anisotropic band structure, and a direct gap that efficiently**absorbs light. In addition, BP offers two characteristics unmatched by any other 2D or bulk materials: a tunable**direct bandgap from the mid-infrared to the visible via the sample thickness and the ability to dynamically tune**the gap through an applied electric field. These characteristics present unique opportunities for the**development of low-cost photodetectors with enhanced responsivities and operating frequencies in the**technologically important infrared region of the spectrum. In close partnership with Excelitas, one of the most**important photodetector manufacturers in the world, we will develop a number of infrared photodetector**architectures based on BP. In particular, we will develop electric-field tunable BP photodetectors to extend the**intrinsic spectral range of BP beyond 4 microns, we will enhance their sensitivity by using optical metasurfaces**and finally we will develop low-cost large-area BP detectors using solution-based processing of BP**nanoparticles. Black phosphorus detectors will have potential applications in telecommunications,**spectroscopy, range finding and thermal imaging. Within the context of this Project, we will specifically**benchmark BP tunable detectors as potential trace gas sensors.