A novel self-powered photodiode based on solution-processed organic TPD: Alq3 active layer

• Main Authors: Basir, Amirah, Alzahrani, Hanan, Sulaiman, Khaulah, Muhammadsharif, Fahmi F., Abdullah, Shahino Mah, Mahmoud, Alaa Yousri, Bahabry, Rabab Riyad, Alsoufi, Mohammad S., Bawazeer, Tahani M., Abdul Sani, Siti Fairus
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2021
• Subjects: QC Physics; TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/34328/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Herein, we report a novel self-powered photodiode, which is based on all solution-processed active layer made of bulk heterojunction of TPD:Alq3. The photodiodes can be utilized for the detection of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a self-powered mode without the need for an external power supply. The optimized photodiode with TPD:Alq3 (1:2) active layer presented a sensitivity, responsivity and detectivity of 1.76 x 103, 5.22 x 10-4 A/W and 3.11 x 1010 Jones, respectively at zero biased mode under 365 nm UV light. We proposed a new approach of utilizing impedance matching to deliver the maximum power of photodiodes to the external load. Nevertheless, with a tool of minimized impedance, one can nearly get the full functionality of the photodiode at zero biased volt, but with zero power delivery to the tool. The performance of TPD:Alq3 based photodiodes outperformed that of photodiodes reported in literature.