Effect of nano-carbon dispersions on signal in silicon-based sensor structure with photoelectrical transducer principle

TL;DR

This study explores how different nano-carbon dispersions affect the signal behavior in silicon-based photoelectrical sensors, revealing unique signatures and dynamics linked to each nano-carbon type.

Contribution

It introduces a novel sensor structure capable of identifying nano-carbon species through their distinct photocurrent signatures and temporal evolution.

Findings

Different nano-carbon species exhibit unique photocurrent signatures.

Nano-carbon particles influence surface band-bending and recombination parameters.

The sensor can distinguish nano-carbon types based on photocurrent behavior.

Abstract

We identified different nano-carbon species such as graphene nanoplatelets, graphite flakes and carbon nanotubes dispersed in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone using a novel sensor structure based on a "deep" silicon barrier working as a photoelectrical transducer. Each nano-carbon particle has specific signature in both 2D photocurrent distribution and photocurrent dependences on bias changing surface band-bending. Additionally, all nano-carbon particles have characteristic features in the time-dependent evolution of photocurrent. The obtained results can be explained by the influence of nano-carbon molecules' local electric field on the recombination parameters of defect centers on the silicon surface.