Researchers build broadband photodetector spanning deep-UV to short-wave infrared

Researchers at Dalian Minzu University developed a perovskite/In0.47Ga0.53As thin-film heterojunction that enables photodetection from 300 to 1,700 nanometers. The device improved stability and imaging performance, pointing to a cheaper path toward full-spectrum sensors for commercial use.

Why it matters: - Photodetectors that cover deep-ultraviolet, visible and short-wavelength infrared light are important for imaging, sensing and other optoelectronic uses. - Existing full-spectrum systems often depend on combining multiple detectors, which raises cost, size and responsivity-matching problems. - The new thin-film approach aims to simplify broadband detection while improving sensitivity and stability.

What happened: - Researchers led by Professor Bin Dong at Dalian Minzu University proposed a perovskite/In0.47Ga0.53As thin-film heterojunction. - The device covers 300 to 1,700 nanometers, spanning deep-ultraviolet to short-wavelength infrared detection. - The study became available online on June 7, 2026, in Opto-Electronic Advances. - The team also built a photodetector imaging array based on the same heterojunction and demonstrated multispectral imaging from DUV to SWIR.

The details: - The researchers compared four natural flavonoid derivatives — flavone, 3-hydroxyflavone, kaempferol and quercetin — to improve lead-halide perovskite performance. - Density functional theory calculations, Kelvin probe force microscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study defect formation and interfacial behavior. - Quercetin showed the best coordination with Pb2+ because its multiple acidic hydroxyl groups formed three stable chelate rings. - The quercetin-modified perovskite film delivered the best charge-transport properties and long-term operational stability. - The integrated detector retained over 98.9% of its initial performance after 30,000 consecutive ON/OFF cycles. - The paper’s title is “Highly sensitive DUV-SWIR photodetectors by natural flavonoid-derivative isomers through a multisite chelation strategy.” - The journal reference is Opto-Electronic Science, and the DOI is https://doi.org/10.29026/oes.2026.260014.

Between the lines: - The work points to a materials-level route to broadband photodetection instead of relying on stacked or separately integrated detector systems. - The flavonoid strategy is aimed at two persistent perovskite problems at once: defect control and stability. - The strong cycle durability suggests the device design may be better suited for real-world operation than many lab-stage prototypes.

What's next: - The heterojunction and imaging-array results could support further development toward commercial broadband sensors. - The main remaining hurdle is likely system integration and scale-up, since the release frames those issues as barriers for current full-spectrum devices. - Additional testing will be needed before the approach can move from promising device demonstration to broader product use.

The bottom line: - Dalian Minzu University researchers paired a modified perovskite with In0.47Ga0.53As to create a high-sensitivity detector that works across the DUV-to-SWIR range and holds performance through extensive cycling.