An ultrasensitive molybdenum-based double-heterojunction phototransistor

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising for next-generation photo detection because of their exceptional properties such as a strong interaction with light, electronic and optical properties that depend on the number of layers, and the ability to form hybrid structures. However, the intrinsic detection ability of 2D material-based photodetectors is low due to their atomic thickness. Photogating is widely used to improve the responsivity of devices, which usually generates large noise current, resulting in limited detectivity. Here, we report a molybdenum-based phototransistor with MoS₂ channel and α-MoO_3-x contact electrodes. The device works in a photo-induced barrier-lowering (PIBL) mechanism and its double heterojunctions between the channel and the electrodes can provide positive feedback to each other. As a result, a detectivity of 9.8 × 10¹⁶ cm Hz^1/2 W^-1 has been achieved. The proposed double heterojunction PIBL mechanism adds to the techniques available for the fabrication of 2D material-based phototransistors with an ultrahigh photosensitivity.