Optimization of Organic Photodetector Performance Using SCAPS 1D Simulation: Enhanced Quantum Efficiency and Responsivity for UV Detection

TL;DR

This paper uses simulation to optimize an organic UV photodetector, achieving high efficiency and selectivity for UV detection.

Contribution

The study introduces a UV-specific optimization strategy combining thickness engineering, doping, and contact tuning for organic photodetectors.

Findings

Optimized device achieves 80% external quantum efficiency in the 300–400 nm UV range.

Replacing aluminum with gold improves hole extraction and reduces dark current.

Device shows negligible response in the visible–near-infrared region.

Abstract

This study presents a SCAPS-1D-based numerical optimization of an organic ultraviolet (UV) photodetector employing an FTO/PTB7/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au device architecture. The novelty of this work lies in a simulation-guided, UV-specific optimization strategy that combines thickness engineering, controlled doping, and contact work-function tuning to achieve intrinsic spectral selectivity without external optical filters. We systematically optimize material and device parameters, including active layer thicknesses, donor and acceptor densities, and the metal electrode work function, to enhance responsivity, detectivity, and spectral performance. Simulations identify optimal thicknesses of 1200 nm for PTB7 and 1000 nm for Spiro-OMeTAD, with donor concentrations of 1 × 1020 cm−3 and 1 × 1018 cm−3, respectively. A comparative contact analysis demonstrates that replacing aluminum with gold (Au) forms a near-ohmic back contact, leading to improved hole extraction and suppressed dark current due to favorable energy-level alignment. The optimized device achieves a peak external quantum efficiency of approximately 80% in the 300–400 nm ultraviolet range, with a responsivity up to 0.4 A/W. The UV selectivity originates from the absorption characteristics of PTB7 combined with suppressed long-wavelength charge collection, resulting in a negligible response in the visible–near-infrared region. These results confirm the device’s strong potential for high-sensitivity, solar-blind UV photodetection. By integrating practical material selection with physically consistent SCAPS-1D optoelectronic modeling, this work provides a robust design framework to guide the development of next-generation organic UV photodetectors for environmental sensing, biomedical diagnostics, and wearable optoelectronics.

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