Polymer photodetector with voltage-adjustable photocurrent spectrum

Abstract

Polymer photodetectors with voltage-adjustable photoresponse from visible to near infrared range are demonstrated. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend is used as the active layer. The photoresponse can be continuously adjusted by the thickness of the active layer as well as the applied voltage bias. The thickness of the active layer is varied from 250 nm to 16.2 μm. The mechanism for the photoresponse adjusted by the thickness can be attributed to the absorption of the photons in the infrared range by thick PCBM layer. The mechanism for the photoresponse adjusted by the applied bias can be attributed to the carrier recombination reduction when the applied bias increases. The adjustable photodetector also has high operating speed up to 10 kHz. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.