Photonic-detection and Bionic-synapse of Graphene/Bi2O2Se/Graphene Bi-heterojunction Device

doi:10.15541/jim20250459

Abstract

Abstract:

In the process of modern electronic devices developing towards miniaturization, integration, and multi-functional intelligence, two-dimensional (2D) materials offer a promising development path for this field with their diverse structures and unique physicochemical properties. Among numerous 2D materials, Bi₂O₂Se has attracted extensive attention due to its suitable bandgap, high carrier mobility, and excellent environmental stability. However, current Bi₂O₂Se-based devices still suffer from issues such as large dark current and low responsivity, which hinder their further development in the field of high-performance optoelectronic devices. In this study, high-quality 2D Bi₂O₂Se nanosheets were grown on mica substrates via chemical vapor deposition. Innovatively, symmetric graphene (Gr) electrodes were used to construct a Gr/Bi₂O₂Se/Gr bi-heterojunction device. This structure utilizes the built-in electric field formed at the dual interfaces between Gr and Bi₂O₂Se to optimize carrier injection and separation processes. Subsequently, the current-voltage characteristics, transient current responses, and spectral responsivity of the device under dark and illumination were systematically characterized at different wavelengths. Especially, the dynamic electrical behavior of the device under pulsed light stimulation was thoroughly investigated to mimic short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity functions. Under 532 nm light illumination, the device exhibits a favorable responsivity of 2.52 A/W and a detectivity of 3.39×10⁹ Jones, and maintains stable photoresponse across a wide wavelength range (365-1050 nm), confirming its potential as a broadband photodetector. Especially under 365 nm pulsed stimulation, the device demonstrates the transition from short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity. By adjusting the intensity, frequency, and number of light pulses, key biological synaptic behaviors, including excitatory postsynaptic currents and spike-timing-dependent plasticity, were accurately simulated. Furthermore, the device successfully reproduces the feature of “empirical learning”, fully demonstrating its potential in the field of neuromorphic computing.

Key words: two-dimensional material, Bi₂O₂Se, graphene, photonic detection, bionic synapse

CLC Number:

TB383

SUN Li, XU Yongshan, GAO Yihua. Photonic-detection and Bionic-synapse of Graphene/Bi₂O₂Se/Graphene Bi-heterojunction Device[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(6): 795-804.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Characterization of Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr bi-heterostructure device (a) Schematic diagram of device fabrication; (b) Schematic diagram of the structure; (c) Optical microscope image; (d) AFM image and edge height profile; (e) Raman spectra; (f, g) Raman mapping images of (f) Bi2O2Se and (g) graphene

Fig. 2 Performance of Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr bi-heterojunction device (a) Output characteristic curves; (b) Transfer characteristic curves; (c) Photocurrent versus light power density curves; (d) Relationship curve between photocurrent and power density; (e) Responsivity and detectivity; (f) Transient current responses under different illumination wavelengths; (g) Schematic diagrams of the energy bands. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 3 Light current transient response curves and fitting curves under different light power densities Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 4 Light-regulated synaptic performance of Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr bi-heterojunction device (a) Schematic diagram of a biological synapse; (b) Schematic diagram of the device working principle; (c) EPSC response of the device under one light pulse; (d) Light intensity dependent EPSC response; (e) EPSC responses under different light pulse durations

Fig. 5 Synaptic plasticity of Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr bi-heterojunction device (a) EPSC responses of the device under different light pulse frequencies; (b) Transition from short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity with the increase of light pulse number; (c) Photocurrent decay characteristics; (d) Relationship between paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) index and inter-pulse interval (Δt), with inset showing the excitatory postsynaptic current triggered by a pair of light pulses with a duration of 0.5 s and an interval of 0.2 s; (e) “Learning-forgetting-relearning” behavior of the device

Fig. 6 Retention behavior of Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr device after (a) 25 and (b) 128 light pulses

Fig. 7 Stimulated PPF behavior of Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr bi-heterojunction device A pair of light stimuli with a duration of 0.50 s and inter-pulse intervals of (a) 0.05, (b) 0.10, (c) 0.50, (d) 0.80, (e) 1.00, (f) 2.00, (g) 5.00, (h) 8.00 and (i) 10.00 s

Table 1 Properties comparison between the Gr/Bi2O2Se/Gr device and other reported synapse

Device	Voltage/V	Wavelength/nm	EPSC/nA	PPF/%	Ref.
MoS₂/h-BN/α-In₂Se₃	1	405	0.3	240	[42]
MoS₂/SnSe₂	1	400	0.3	1.25	[43]
Bi₂O₂Se-V_se	0	532	0.3	133	[44]
c-PtTe₂/PtSe₂	1	625	15	1.25	[45]
Te/SnS₂	2	532	0.1	187	[46]
p-WSe₂/n-Ta₂NiS₅	-1	1064	0.01	23	[47]
Ph-BTBT-10 2DMC	-1	365	0.15	248	[48]
Gr/Bi₂O₂Se/Gr	0.01	365	6.91	142.1	This work

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Photonic-detection and Bionic-synapse of Graphene/Bi₂O₂Se/Graphene Bi-heterojunction Device

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