Multidimensional graphene and ZnO-based heterostructure for flexible transparent ultraviolet photodetector

A multidimensional graphene and ZnO-based heterostructure for flexible transparent ultraviolet photodetector (UV-PD) applications is successfully fabricated on an indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate (ITO-coated PET). In this prototype, chemically reduced graphene oxide film is used as a charge transfer network and a template layer for the low-temperature growth of high quality vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorods array (ZNRA) on ITO-coated PET substrate. Graphene quantum dots decorated on the ZNRA significantly enhanced the photocurrent of the device. The synergistic effects of the rGO film and GQDs on the performance of the UV-PD are also systematically explored. The fabricated flexible UV-PD shows high detectivity (~10¹² cmHz^1/2 W⁻¹), high responsivity (~13 AW⁻¹) and good response time (~5 s) at a low bias of 2 V. Importantly, the fabrication process is facile, inexpensive, solution-based, low-temperature (120 °C), and provides a promising platform for flexible transparent UV-PD applications.