Synthesis of Large-Area Atomically Thin BiOI Crystals with Highly Sensitive and Controllable Photodetection

Tuning in to the latest in 2D materials

30 September 2019

A two-dimensional (2D) material made from single-atom layers of bismuth oxyiodide could pave the way for new applications in optoelectronics.

In recent years, 2D materials made from single elements or binary compounds like graphene or transition metal dichalcogenides, respectively, have attracted considerable interest because of their unique physical and chemical properties. Attention is now turning to 2D structures made from three elements, which provide more tunability of their properties.

A team that included scientists from Northwestern Polytechnical University has developed a method for growing large-area 2D bismuth oxyiodide crystals from monolayers of bismuth, oxygen and iodine.

The researchers used the bismuth oxyiodide nanosheets to make photodetectors that had a high sensitivity to blue light with a wavelength of 473 nanometres. Furthermore, its optical properties could be controlled by using ultraviolet light.

The material is promising for optoelectronic applications.

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References

1. Advanced Functional Materials 29, 1900129 (2019). doi: 10.1002/adfm.201900129