MAPbI3 photodetectors integrated in waveguides

The remarkable success of metal halide perovskites (MHPs) in recent years has positioned this family of semiconductors as strong candidates for implementing a new generation of optoelectronic devices. For this purpose, the incorporation of the MHP in optical architectures is a necessary step to develop a photonic technology based on this semiconductor. In this publication, we propose the integration of MAPbI₃ (MA: methylammonium) semiconductor perovskite and microgap electrodes in optical waveguides for photodetection applications. A home-made set-up enables the extraction of photocurrent together under the application of the required bias (1 V) and several illumination intensities. At these conditions, the device exhibits dark currents as low as 100 pA with photocurrents higher than 500 nA, which represents an ON-OFF ratio of 5000. The device is analyzed under surface and end-fire coupling illumination, confirming a remarkable photodetection of the light propagated through the structure. Besides, the generated photocurrent is efficiently extracted with a transimpedance amplifier which enables us to study the transient and frequency response characteristics. These results mark a significant step toward the implementation of MHP-based photodetectors in integrated devices for telecommunications and sensing applications.