Nonlinear Pyroelectric and Photoelectric Responses of GaN Nanowires to Ultraviolet Excitation

Gallium nitride (GaN), an advanced piezoelectric semiconductor, shows strong potential for ultraviolet (UV) applications due to its prominent thermoelectric, photoelectric, and mechanoelectrical coupling effects, all of which are critical to device performance. This paper focuses on one-dimensional GaN nanowires and introduces a nonlinear theoretical model to describe pyroelectric and photoelectron effects under UV excitation. The model accounts for both photothermal and photoconductive effects. Using the perturbation method, we derive an approximate analytical solution for the internal physical field of the nanowire under UV light irradiation, which aligns well with the results from nonlinear numerical simulations. Compared to a light intensity of 2 W/m², a light intensity of 6 W/m² leads to a 45% increase in electron concentration, a 235% rise in hole concentration, a 146% increase in potential, and a 274% increase in polarization charge concentration. The pyro-phototronic effect enables UV light to modulate the electrical transport characteristics of a Schottky junction. This study addresses the limitations of linearized models for handling large disturbances, providing a comprehensive theoretical and computational framework for advancing GaN micro- and nanoscale devices and enabling effective, non-contact control.