A Photovoltaic InAs Quantum-Dot Infrared Photodetector

A photovoltaic quantum dot infrared photodetector with InAs/GaAs/AIGaAs structures is reported. The detector is sensitive to normal incident light. At zero bias and 78K, a clear spectral response in the range of 2-7μm has been obtained with peaks at 3.1, 4.8 and 5.7μm. The bandgap energies of GaAs and Al0.2Ga0.8As at 78K are calculated and the energy diagram of the transitions in the Quantum-Dot Infrared Photodetector （QDIP） is given out. The photocurrent signals can be detected up to 110 K, which is state-of-the-art for photovoltaic QDIP, The photovoltaic effect in our detector is a result of the enhanced band asymmetry as we design in the structure.