To develop and design an environmentally friendly, low-cost shortwave infrared (SWIR) photodetector (PD) material and extend the optical response cutoff wavelengths of existing silicon photodetectors beyond 1100 nm, high-performance silicon-compatible Mg
2Si/Si PDs are required. First, the structural model of the Mg
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To develop and design an environmentally friendly, low-cost shortwave infrared (SWIR) photodetector (PD) material and extend the optical response cutoff wavelengths of existing silicon photodetectors beyond 1100 nm, high-performance silicon-compatible Mg
2Si/Si PDs are required. First, the structural model of the Mg
2Si/Si heterojunction was established using the Silvaco Atlas module. Second, the effects of the doping concentrations of Mg
2Si and Si on the photoelectric properties of the Mg
2Si/Si heterojunction PD, including the energy band, breakdown voltage, dark current, forward conduction voltage, external quantum efficiency (EQE), responsivity, noise equivalent power (NEP), detectivity, on/off ratio, response time, and recovery time, were simulated. At different doping concentrations, the heterojunction energy band shifted, and a peak barrier appeared at the conduction band of the Mg
2Si/Si heterojunction interface. When the doping concentrations of Si and Mg
2Si layer were 10
17, and 10
16 cm
−3, respectively, the Mg
2Si/Si heterojunction PD could obtain optimal photoelectric properties. Under these conditions, the maximum EQE was 70.68% at 800 nm, the maximum responsivity was 0.51 A/W at 1000 nm, the minimum NEP was 7.07 × 10
−11 WHz
–1/2 at 1000 nm, the maximum detectivity was 1.4 × 10
10 Jones at 1000 nm, and the maximum on/off ratio was 141.45 at 1000 nm. The simulation and optimization result also showed that the Mg
2Si/Si heterojunction PD could be used for visible and SWIR photodetection in the wavelength range from 400 to 1500 nm. The results also provide technical support for the future preparation of eco-friendly heterojunction photodetectors.
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