Circular Interdigital Array Electrodes for Polarization-Insensitive Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photoelectric detectors are sensitive to polarization of incident light, leading to low absorption efficiency and limited bandwidth, and there is a need for a detector suitable for non-polarized light.
Innovation Solution
A circular interdigital array electrode structure that excites localized surface plasmons without relying on polarization, featuring a circular interdigital array electrode with staggered or aligned distribution types, connected through electrode wires, and ohmic or Schottky contact with a semiconductor layer, enhancing light absorption and reducing carrier transport distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a grating-structure electrode is used to improve light absorption, then absorption efficiency is improved, but the detector becomes sensitive to polarization of incident light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional planar or grating electrodes with a circular interdigital array electrode structure. The circular geometry provides rotational symmetry that allows the detector to absorb light efficiently regardless of polarization direction, thereby eliminating polarization sensitivity while maintaining high absorption efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines metal materials (such as gold or aluminum) with semiconductor materials to form a composite circular interdigital array electrode structure. This composite structure utilizes the plasmonic properties of metals to enhance light absorption while the circular geometry ensures polarization independence
2Speed
If carrier transport distance is reduced to increase bandwidth, then response speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circular interdigital array electrode structure naturally reduces carrier transport distance through its radial geometry, where carriers generated at the center have shorter paths to reach collecting electrodes compared to conventional planar structures, thereby increasing bandwidth without significantly increasing device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The detector achieves stable absorption in different polarization directions, increases absorption efficiency, and enhances bandwidth by reducing carrier transit time and capacitance, resulting in improved photoelectric conversion efficiency and response bandwidth.
Implementation Method 1
by using the surface plasmon phenomenon generated by a metal nanostructure under light irradiation, an optical field can be localized on a surface of the metal structure, and the great field enhancement can be obtained
Implementation Method 2
Photoelectric detectors are devices that can convert optical signals into electric signals by utilizing the photoelectric effect
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a circular interdigital array plasmon electrode photoelectric detector suitable for non-polarized light. The detector includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer and a circular interdigital array electrode, where rectangular electrodes on left side and right side of the circular interdigital array electrode respectively form a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the positive and negative electrodes are connected to the circular interdigital array electrode through electrode connecting wires, and a circular electrode array and the electrode connecting wires form a circular interdigital array electrode structure. A preparation method for a circular interdigital array plasmon electrode photoelectric detector is also provided. According to the present disclosure, by adjusting inner circle and outer circle radii and the arrangement manner of circular electrodes, the polarization-insensitive effect of the detector for incident light is achieved, and the absorption efficiency for the incident light and the bandwidth of the detector are increased.