Wavelength-Selective Organic Photodetectors

Abstract

Spectroscopic sensing combined with optical imaging is crucial with respect to today's ever-growing demand for instant analytical techniques to be incorporated in various handheld and wearable devices. Further miniaturization and integration of such types of sensors is critical and wavelength-selective organic photodetectors (OPDs) may provide the required technology. In this progress report, some early OPD applications and their potential are presented. Crucial device parameters such as the specific detectivity, external quantum efficiency, and dark current density of visible and near-infrared wavelength-selective photodetectors are compared and assayed to theoretical and semi-empirical limits. The different organic detector approaches include the use of inherently narrow-band absorbers as well as internally filtered and microcavity devices. Each of these strategies comes with its own specific material and device design criteria, around which material development and selection should be centered to move beyond the current state of the art. As OPD technology matures, device stability becomes important and is hence also briefly discussed. Via this perspective, it is aimed to provide the reader with critical insights into the device physics and chemistry of wavelength-selective OPDs, hereby providing leverage for new ideas to bring this technology to the market.