SnSe Nanosheets: From Facile Synthesis to Applications in Broadband Photodetections

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2020 Dec 27;11(1):49. doi: 10.3390/nano11010049.

Abstract

In recent years, using two-dimensional (2D) materials to realize broadband photodetection has become a promising area in optoelectronic devices. Here, we successfully synthesized SnSe nanosheets (NSs) by a facile tip ultra-sonication method in water-ethanol solvent which was eco-friendly. The carrier dynamics of SnSe NSs was systematically investigated via a femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in the visible wavelength regime and three decay components were clarified with delay time of τ1 = 0.77 ps, τ2 = 8.3 ps, and τ3 = 316.5 ps, respectively, indicating their potential applications in ultrafast optics and optoelectronics. As a proof-of-concept, the photodetectors, which integrated SnSe NSs with monolayer graphene, show high photoresponsivities and excellent response speeds for different incident lasers. The maximum photo-responsivities for 405, 532, and 785 nm were 1.75 × 104 A/W, 4.63 × 103 A/W, and 1.52 × 103 A/W, respectively. The photoresponse times were ~22.6 ms, 11.6 ms, and 9.7 ms. This behavior was due to the broadband light response of SnSe NSs and fast transportation of photocarriers between the monolayer graphene and SnSe NSs.

Keywords: SnSe NSs/graphene; carrier dynamics; photodetectors; probe sonication.