LAUSR

Nanostructured blends of inorganic and organic materials could unwind unique properties and boost performance over each individual constituent. We demonstrate here a hybrid photodetector containing ZnO and functionalized oligo(p-phenylenevinylene), which was deposited electrochemically onto an electrode. XRD results reveal that the conjugates formed are lamellar in nature. As photodetectors, room-temperature responsivity as high as 0.2 AW–1 at 330 nm with a bias of −20 V, the maximum external quantum efficiency of 75% at −20 V bias and 100 times increase in the light current upon UV illumination of 325 nm, have been observed. These values perpetrate a future of a high-performance hybrid photodetector which could be cost-effective and environmentally benign.