Super-Flexible Wearable, Ultra-Light Weight, Self-Powered a-Ga₂O₃/Paper-Based UV-C Photodetector

The development of a highly flexible and lightweight wearable self-powered ultraviolet-C photodetector (UVCPD) utilizing an amorphous-Ga₂O₃ (a-Ga₂O₃) film grown on paper substrates (glossy, parchment, and 75 GSM) is reported. The morphology, flexibility, optical characteristics, and photodetection capability of the sputtered a-Ga₂O₃ on paper substrates are thoroughly investigated. The fabricated device demonstrates an ultra-high responsivity of 20.96 mAW⁻¹, a high specific detectivity of 1.04×10¹⁰ Jones, a low noise equivalent power of 4.71×10^-12 WHz^-1/2 with a rapid response speed of 65/67 ms under self-powered conditions at an optical illumination of 266 nm. The superior performance of a-Ga2O3/paper-based devices is attributed to surface roughness, porosity, microfibrous structure, and enhanced light absorption. The device showcases outstanding flexibility, bending endurance (>600 cycles), and deformability and exhibits stable performance over two months. The fabricated device could be utilized in biomedical applications as a wearable device designed to mitigate the adverse effects of UVC radiation, known for its potential to induce various harmful health conditions. Demonstrating self-powered, high-performance, and biodegradable paper-based UVCPD devices opens up new avenues for the next generation of wearable and flexible optoelectronic devices.