Boosting Self-Powered Properties of 2D Material-Based Photodetectors via Asymmetry Engineering

Self-powered photodetectors (SPPDs) based on two-dimensional materials (2DMs) have attracted significant interest as promising candidates for next-generation wearable electronics and intelligent sensing systems, owing to their intrinsic advantages, such as low-power consumption characteristics, broadband spectral response, and ultrathin mechanical flexibility. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent progress in the development of self-powered PDs promoted by different types of symmetry-breaking strategies, including structural designs, material selections, and process innovations. Furthermore, representative applications in imaging and recognition, optical communication, and health monitoring are presented to highlight the practical utility of these devices. Finally, critical challenges and prospective research directions are discussed, with emphasis on scalable manufacturing techniques, integration into device arrays, and the establishment of standardized performance benchmarking frameworks to support sustainable development and real-world deployment of 2D material-based photodetectors.