Self-Powered, Ultrathin, Flexible, and Scalable Ultraviolet Detector Utilizing a Diamond-MoS<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction.

Wang, Yicheng; Jing, Jixiang; Luo, Yumeng; Wang, Xiaomin; Liang, Kuan; Chen, Changsheng; Ki, Dong-Keun; Zhu, Ye et al. · Nano Lett · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The escalating demand for ultraviolet (UV) sensing necessitates detectors that are both environmentally and mechanically resilient. Diamond emerges as a highly promising material for next-generation UV detection due to its unique properties. However, conventional diamond-based UV detectors are constrained by rigid bulk architectures and a reliance on external power supplies, hindering their integration and complicating device design. To tackle these challenges, herein, we first demonstrate a large-scale, self-powered, and flexible diamond UV detector by heterogeneously integrating a MoS<sub>2</sub> monolayer with an ultrathin, freestanding diamond membrane. The fabricated device operates at zero external bias and exhibits high responsivity and detectivity. Notably, mechanical bending enables strain-induced bandgap modulation of the diamond membrane, allowing dynamically tunable photoresponse─a capability absent in rigid diamond counterparts. To validate its practicality and scalability, a proof-of-concept UV imager was demonstrated. This newly developed configuration will undoubtedly open new routes toward scalable, integrable, and flexible UV sensing.