Colloidal wurtzite-structure CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (CWQDs), with noncentral
asymmetry structure and spontaneous polarization, have an extensive
potential for applications based on the pyroelectric effect, such as energy
harvestors, self-powered nanogenerators, and photosensors. Here, a lowcost,
easy-fabrication, and high-speed self-powered photodetector is demonstrated,
which performs independently without any external power source.
The response of the device caused by the photoinduced-pyroelectric effect
is experimentally investigated based on the Au/CWQDs/Au edge-electrodes
structure, which exhibits an ultrafast photoresponse with a rising time of
20.6 μs and a falling time of 30.1 μs. Moreover, the frequency and temperature
dependence of the device also is investigated under zero bias. This work
provides a new approach to achieve self-powered photodetectors, which may
show promise for extensive batch applications, such as wireless sensing,
optothermal detection, optoelectronic communication, and energy harvesting.