High-Performance Uncooled Infrared Photodetection Based on van der Waals Metallic FePd₂Te₂ Nanoflakes

Uncooled infrared photodetectors that combine high sensitivity, low power consumption, and broad spectral coverage remain highly desirable. However, they are still hindered by the complex epitaxial processes and cooling requirements of mainstream semiconductor technologies. Here, we demonstrate a high-performance infrared photodetector based on FePd₂Te₂ nanoflakes, a van der Waals metallic material that enables efficient photothermal conversion. The device operates at room temperature under a bias of 0.1 V and exhibits a broadband photoresponse spanning from the visible to the long-wave infrared. Across the measured infrared range, a wavelength-independent responsivity (R) above 50 A/W, a noise equivalent power (NEP) below 2.83 × 10^-16 W/Hz^1/2, and a specific detectivity (D*) exceeding 3.86 × 10¹² cm Hz^1/2/W are achieved. The photoresponse appears to arise from the photobolometric effect, in which the temperature rise at the contact interface is considered to modulate the contact resistance and thereby amplify the photocurrent. These results establish FePd₂Te₂ as a promising platform for room-temperature, low-power, and highly sensitive infrared detection.