Using Novel Semiconductor Features to Construct Advanced ZnO Nanowires-Based Ultraviolet Photodetectors: A Brief Review

Ultraviolet photodetectors have attracted significant research attention in recent years due to their potential applications in civilian and military fields. ZnO nanowires and nanorods have been regarded as the most potential candidates for ultraviolet photodetectors fabrication because of their peculiar characteristics and size effect, which are different from their bulk material. Recently, many novel routes and semiconductor features, such as the surface and interface engineering, the pryo-phototronic effect, the piezo-phototronic effect, the surface plasmon effect and the surface functionalization have been utilized to improve the photoelectric characteristics of ultraviolet photodetectors. Thus, the working mechanism of these effects existing in ZnO nanowires/nanorods-based ultraviolet photodetectors should be investigated in-depth. In this paper, firstly, the hydrothermal method and the chemical vapor deposition method, as two typical synthesis methods of ZnO nanowires are briefly reviewed. Secondly, we focus on reviewing the properties of varied ZnO nanowires/nanorods-based ultraviolet photodetectors constructed using the above mentioned semiconductor features with metal-semiconductor-metal structure, Schottky barrier structure, vertical p-n heterojunction structure and core-shell heterostructure. Furthermore, the most attractive self-powered ultraviolet photodetectors are systematically reviewed. For various ZnO nanowires/nanorods-based ultraviolet photodetectors, we put the emphasis on the working mechanism of semiconductor features to improve the properties of the photodetectors. Finally, we give an outlook on the future development of ZnO nanowires/nanorods-based ultraviolet photodetectors.