Incorporation of C-coated V2O5 Nanoballs with TiO2 Nanorod Arrays for Self-powered Electrochemical Broadband Photodetectors

This paper reported a self-powered broadband electrochemical photodetector (ECPD) based on V2O5/TiO2 nano-heterostructure. V2O5 nanoballs (VNBs) an free-standing TiO2 nanorod arrays (TNRAs) were prepared using hydrothermal method, and an incorporation of SWCNTs-modified VNBs with TNRAs was conducted to form a SWCNT@VNBs/TNRAs heterostructure. The ECPD was assembled as ITO/electrolyte/SWCNTs@VNBs/TNRAs/FTO structure for experimental measurement. A thorough characterization for the materials and devices were performed. It is demonstrated that the photocurrent of ECPD can reach around 8 mA with a self-driving potential of 0.5 V. The interface electrochemical redox reaction at the SWCNT@V2O5/TiO2 heterostructure makes a high-efficient photoelectrical conversion without requirement of external bias.