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Correlating Structure and Detection Properties in HgTe Nanocrystal Films
Sang-Soo Chee1,2, Charlie Gréboval1, Debora Vale Magalhaes3,4
1CNRS, Institut des NanoSciences de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
Nano Letters
|May 6, 2021
Summary
Shape influences HgTe nanocrystal (NC) performance in infrared light sensors. Tripod HgTe NCs show higher performance than spheres due to reduced Te excess and fewer traps.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Infrared Optoelectronics
Background:
- HgTe nanocrystals (NCs) offer tunable infrared absorption for light sensors.
- NCs often exhibit irregular shapes and broad size distributions, leading to performance limitations like traps and reduced mobility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of HgTe NC shape on their optoelectronic performance.
- To design and evaluate a novel planar p-n junction device using tripod HgTe NCs.
Main Methods:
- Electron tomography for structural analysis.
- Tight-binding simulations for electronic properties.
- Fabrication and characterization of dual-gate field-effect transistors (FETs).
Main Results:
- Charge dissociation in HgTe NCs is strong but largely independent of shape.
- Tripod HgTe NCs enable a tunable planar p-n junction.
- Tripod NCs outperform spherical NCs, attributed to lower tellurium (Te) excess and reduced hole trap density.
Conclusions:
- HgTe NC shape significantly impacts device performance, contrary to initial charge dissociation observations.
- Optimizing NC shape and minimizing Te excess are crucial for enhancing infrared sensor efficiency.
