IIT Delhi researchers develop advanced photodetector

Photodetectors convert light signals into electrical signals to make high-speed data transfer possible. Therefore, they are important devices in optical communication. Conventional photodetectors, however, require some external power source to function and incur many losses along the way.

 The newly developed photodetector constitutes MSIM, which stands for metal-semiconductor-insulator-metal, and overcomes these deficiencies in a way that makes it more efficient and reliable. Unlike conventional Si and GaAs-based photodetectors that have to be biased at a very high voltage and are limited in flexibility, the newly developed MSIM photodetector operates using photo-induced displacement current, which enhances its response and efficiency.

The pioneering research has been led by Dr. Rakesh Suthar, post-doctoral researcher and Suryakant Singh, under the guidance of Professor Supravat Karak from the Organic and Hybrid Electronic Device Laboratory, Department of Energy Science and Engineering, and has been published in the Advanced Functional Materials, a prestigious journal. Some of this work was also undertaken in a collaborative effort with Professor Kunio Awaga's group at Nagoya University, Japan, under the JSPS Invitational Fellow program.

“Our goal was to develop a high-speed, self-powered photodetector that can advance next-generation optical communication systems while ensuring energy efficiency,” said Professor Karak.

“This research highlights the potential of organic semiconductors in developing energy-efficient and ultra-fast optoelectronic devices, significantly enhancing high-speed communication and sensing technologies,” Dr. Suthar said.