p-(001)NiO/n-(0001)ZnO heterojunction based ultraviolet photodetectors with controllable response time

Abstract We investigate the potential of epitaxial (001)p-NiO/(0001)n-ZnO heterostructures grown on (0001)sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique for ultraviolet (UV) photodetector application. Our study reveals that in the self-powered mode, these devices can serve as effective photodetectors for the UV-A band (320–400 nm) with response time as short as ∼400 µ s. Peak responsivity as high as 5 mA W −1 at zero bias condition have been achieved. These devices also show a very high level of stability under repeated on/off illumination cycles over a long period of time. Furthermore, we find that the response time of these detectors can be controlled from several microseconds to thousands of seconds by applying bias both in the forward and the reverse directions. This persistent photoconductivity effect has been explained in terms of the field induced change in the capture barrier height associated with certain traps located at the junction.