An Efficient Way to Assemble ZnS Nanobelts as Ultraviolet-Light Sensors with Enhanced Photocurrent and Stability

Although there has been significant progress in the fabrication and performance optimization of one-dimensional nanostructure-based photodetectors, it is still a challenge to develop an effective and low-cost device with high performance characteristics, such as a high photocurrent/dark-current ratio, photocurrent stability, and fast time response. Herein an efficient and low-cost method to achieve high-performance 'visible-blind' microscale ZnS nanobelt-based ultraviolet (UV)-light sensors without using a lithography technique, by increasing the nanobelt surface areas exposed to light, is reported. The devices exhibit about 750 times enhancement of a photocurrent compared with individual nanobelt-based sensors and an ultrafast time response. The photocurrent stability and time response to UV-light do not change significantly when a channel distance is altered from 2 to 100 mu m or the sensor environment changes from air to vacuum and different measurement temperatures (60 and 150 degrees C). The photoelectrical behaviors can be recovered well after returning the measurement conditions to air and room temperature again. The low cost and high performance of the resultant ZnS nanobelt photodetectors guarantee their highest potential for visible-blind UV-light sensors working in the UV-A band.