High sensitivity UV photodetectors based on low-cost TiO₂P25-graphene hybrids

Photodetectors (PDs) are the core component of multiple commercial optical sensing systems. Currently, the detection of ultra-weak ultraviolet (UV) optical signals is becoming increasingly important for wide range of applications in civil and military industries. Due to its wide band gap, low cost, and long-term stability, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is an attractive material for UV photodetection. A kind of low-cost TiO₂nanomaterial (named as P25) manufactured by flame hydrolysis is an easily available commercial material. However, a low-cost and high-sensitivity UV PD based on P25 has not been achieved until now. Here, a hybrid UV PD with monolayer CVD graphene covered by a thin film of P25 quantum dots was prepared for the first time, and its responsivity was approximately 10⁵A W^-1at 365 nm wavelength. The response time and recovery time of the UV PD were 32.6 s and 34 s, respectively. Strong light absorption and photocontrolled oxygen adsorption of the P25 layer resulted in high UV sensitivity. The UV PDs proposed in this work have great potential for commercialization due to their low cost and high sensitivity.