Flexo-electric broadband photo-detectors and electrical energy generators

Abstract

Photo-detectors disclosed include at least one of a thin film or a heterostructure of photo-sensitive material and a pair of Ohmic contacts coupled to the at least one of the thin film or the heterostructure. The at least one of the thin film or the heterostructure is configured to be under a strain gradient to induce shift current flow within the material to perform photo-detection in a frequency range that includes a mid-infrared frequency range. The photo-detectors provided for can include a variety of configurations, such as a lateral configuration or a vertical configuration, and can operate in self-powered and negative illumination regimes. Associated methods are also provided, which can include inducing a strain gradient and performing photo-detection in a frequency range that includes a mid-infrared frequency range.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.