Broadband photodetectors that can decipher the wavelength (λ) and intensity (I) of an unknown incident light are urgently demanded. Photothermoelectric (PTE) detectors can achieve ultrabroadband photodetection surpassing the bandgap limitation; however, their practical application is severely hampered by the lack of deciphering strategy. In this work, we report a variable elimination method to decipher λ and I of the incident lights based on an integrated Ag2Se film-based PTE detector. Nanostructured Ag2Se films with controlled thickness are synthesized using an ion sputtering of Ag and a room-temperature selenization method and then assembled into a detector. Under identical illumination, Ag2Se films of different thicknesses produce varying output photothermal voltages, influenced by factors including λ. By establishing a direct relationship between the photothermal voltage and the absorption of Ag2Se films of varied thickness, we successfully eliminate variables independent of λ, thus determining λ. Subsequently, I is determined by the calibrated responsivity relationship using obtained λ. Our PTE detector achieves a broadband spectrum from 400 to 950 nm and high accuracy, with deviations as low as ∼2.63 and ∼0.53% for deciphered λ and I, respectively. This method allows for self-powered broadband decipherable photodetection without a complex device architecture or computational assistance, which could boost the research enthusiasm and promote the commercialization of PTE broadband detectors.
Zhen-yu Yang,Xin-zheng Jin,Chen-hui Huang,Yan-zhou Lei,Yong Wang
The enthusiasm for environmental energy harvesting has triggered a boom in research on photo-thermoelectric generators (PTEGs), and the relevant applications are mainly focused on self-energy supply sensors owing to the limitations of their output performances. For this purpose, high-output hierarchical heterogeneous PTEGs were constructed by assembling separately optimized thermoelectric (TE) and photothermal (PT) layers. The pressure and temperature conditions of Ag2Se films during the pressing process were first explored, and the sample with the optimal performance and least defects was selected as the TE layer. At the same time, different morphologies of polypyrrole (PPy) PT layers were electrochemically synthesized. It is found that the three-dimensional structure of Bushy-PPy could effectively improve the light absorption and thus enhance the PT conversion performance. The final assembled PTEG can produce an output voltage of −9.03 mV and an output power of 3.53 μW under the irradiation of a near-infrared light source of 300 mW cm–2 without a cooling source, and it can also achieve considerable output power under visible light irradiation of different intensities. Combining its high retentions of electrical conductivity (99%) and output performance (97%) after 1000 bending-tension cycles, it is proven to be a promising next-generation wearable flexible energy harvesting device.