A review on the role of nanotechnology in the development of near-infrared photodetectors: materials, performance metrics, and potential applications

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 58; no. 35; pp. 13889 - 13924
• Main Authors: Gundepudi, Karthikay, Neelamraju, Pavan Mohan, Sangaraju, Sambasivam, Dalapati, Goutam Kumar, Ball, Writoban Basu, Ghosh, Siddhartha, Chakrabortty, Sabyasachi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 21st century; Business metrics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Electronic implants; Functional materials; Infrared detectors; Materials Science; Medical imaging; Military applications; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Near infrared radiation; Neural prostheses; Optimization; Performance measurement; Photometers; Polymer Sciences; Quantum computing; renewable energy sources; Review; semiconductors; Solid Mechanics
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-023-08876-8

This review article focuses on the role of nanotechnology (NT) in the development of advanced organic and inorganic photodetectors and their potential applications in the coming decades. We initiate the article with an overview of NT and potential applications of Nanotechnology in the twenty-first century ranging from Semiconductor manufacturing to Medical Imaging to Renewable energy to Quantum computing to Opto-electronics. The second part of the article delved into specific details on the role of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in developing advanced Photodetectors (PDs) and specifically discussing the internal functioning of near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors. Subsequently we focused on the performance metrics of PDs and types of PDs namely Organic Photodetectors (OPD) and Inorganic Photodetectors (IPD). We continued our in-depth discussion on OPDs and IPDs elaborating their structural features, operation mechanisms, types, performance optimization and role of functional nanomaterials. The final part of this review focuses on key applications of photodetectors e.g., retinal implant, biomedical imaging, personalized health monitoring, telecommunication, and military applications etc. Finally, we concluded the review paper discussing future opportunities and challenges regarding applications of NIR photodetectors in the twenty-first century. Graphical Abstract