MoS2/Si Heterojunction with Vertically Standing Layered Structure for Ultrafast, High-Detectivity, Self-Driven Visible-Near Infrared Photodetectors

As an interesting layered material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been extensively studied in recent years due to its exciting properties. However, the applications of MoS2 in optoelectronic devices are impeded by the lack of high‐quality p–n junction, low light absorption for mono‐/multilayers, and the difficulty for large‐scale monolayer growth. Here, it is demonstrated that MoS2 films with vertically standing layered structure can be deposited on silicon substrate with a scalable sputtering method, forming the heterojunction‐type photodetectors. Molecular layers of the MoS2 films are perpendicular to the substrate, offering high‐speed paths for the separation and transportation of photo‐generated carriers. Owing to the strong light absorption of the relatively thick MoS2 film and the unique vertically standing layered structure, MoS2/Si heterojunction photodetectors with unprecedented performance are actualized. The self‐driven MoS2/Si heterojunction photodetector is sensitive to a broadband wavelength from visible light to near‐infrared light, showing an extremely high detectivity up to ≈1013 Jones (Jones = cm Hz1/2 W−1), and an ultrafast response speed of ≈3 μs. The performance is significantly better than the photodetectors based on mono‐/multilayer MoS2 nanosheets. Additionally, the MoS2/Si photodetectors exhibit excellent stability in air for a month. This work unveils the great potential of MoS2/Si heterojunction for optoelectronic applications. A new type of visible–near infrared self‐driven photodetector is developed by sputtering a layer of n‐type MoS2 film with a vertically standing layered structure on p‐type silicon. With the advantages of easy fabrication, wide response spectrum, extremely high detectivity (≈1013 Jones), ultrafast response speed (≈3 μs), and good durability, this heterojunction photodetector shows great potential for optoelectronic applications.