Tunable Bi-directional Broadband Self-Powered Photoresponse in a 0D C60/2-D SnS2 Nanoflower Heterostructure

Abstract

Realizing bidirectional photodetection is essential for developing next-generation artificial neuromorphic systems, visual information processing, and future optoelectronic logic gates. Photodetectors are promising visible light communication systems due to their energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Color shift keying is frequently used in visible light communication to meet non-negative light intensity modulation demands. However, requiring a minimum of two photodetectors with filters to decode optical signals raises the device cost and complicates the communication system. Here, novel bidirectional photo response of 0-D C₆₀/2-D SnS₂ nanoflower heterostructure for self-powered broadband photodetector synthesis using sol–gel methods is presented. The photodetector exhibits significantly enhanced currents, with increases of ≈17000% (365 nm), 8750% (456 nm), 3333% (532 nm), 17647% (632 nm), and 124500% (850 nm) under zero bias, compared to C₆₀. Furthermore, by adjusting the wavelength of the incident light, controllable bidirectional photoresponse (negative for wavelength = 365 nm and positive for 456–850 nm wavelengths) is achieved through the C₆₀/SnS₂, owing to the synergistic interplay between the photothermoelectric effect of C₆₀ and the photovoltaic effect of SnS₂. Polarity switching bestows multifunctional attributes upon photoelectric devices, potentially providing innovative approaches to overcome conventional challenges and fulfill the demands of emergent technological paradigms.