Efficient room-temperature terahertz detection via bolometric and photothermoelectric effects in EuBiTe<sub>3</sub> crystal
Yingying Niu, Yingxin Wang, Weidong Wu, Jianguo Wen, Yayun Cheng, Meng Chen, Shoulu Jiang, Dong Wu, Ziran Zhao
Abstract
We report on terahertz (THz) detectors with a high performance at room temperature using EuBiTe 3 crystals as the active material under mechanisms of bolometric and photothermoelectric effects (PTE). Our detectors have a simple structure and can achieve high sensitivity, even without a coupling antenna and optimization of the thermal environment. Under bias conditions, our results suggest that the bolometric responsivities of the EuBiTe 3 photodetector at 1.84, 2.52, and 3.11 THz are 0.35, 0.88 and 1.32 A/W in air, and the noise-equivalent power (NEP) are 43.6, 16.4, 10.9 nW/Hz 1/2 , respectively. Under unbiased condition, our device exhibits excellent PTE response for THz detection. As a self-powered photodetector, it exhibits NEPs as low as 4.3 nW/Hz 1/2 in air and 300 pW/Hz 1/2 in vacuum under the illumination of 2.52 THz, respectively. In addition, in order to optimize detector performance, it is worthy for considering manufacturing two-dimensional(2D) structural devices for the layered structure of EuBiTe 3 crystal. Our devices provide an exciting way toward developing efficient and high-performance room temperature THz photodetectors.