CeO2:ZnO hybrid nanorods for self-powered UV-photodetectors

In this study we present and discuss p-n heterostructures for photodetection. The hybrid structures consist of CeO 2 :ZnO-Cu 2 O, featuring different concentrations of CeO 2 , fabricated by using hydrothermal co-growth for CeO 2 and ZnO, and sputtering deposition for Cu 2 O. As the concentration of CeO 2 in the ZnO pristine nanorods was increased, the structural, optical and functional features of the materials showed relevant changes, in terms of crystalline domains and optical bandgap. After Cu 2 O deposition, the ternary materials were tested as UV photodectors, showing very good performance in terms of fast response and decay times. Specifically, we found that the CeO 2 :ZnO-Cu 2 O devices maintain a stable current under light irradiation, whose value was dependent on the CeO 2 amount incorporated in the ZnO 1D nanostructures. Among all tested configurations, the 5.5 % hybrid CeO 2 :ZnO-Cu 2 O exhibits the highest current efficiency, accompanied by rapid rise and decay times. Our investigation suggests that the CeO 2 :ZnO-Cu 2 O configuration holds great potential for optoelectronic applications, particularly in the development of UV photodetectors.