Abstract:

In this paper, new multilayer design based on ZnO/Ag/ZnO structure is proposed as a new way to achieve UV-based photodetector (PD) with superior optical behavior. Our purpose resides on reducing the refracting light and achieving an effective absorption in the Ag metallic sub-layers. New numerical model based on accurate solutions of Maxwell’s equations is developed in order to elucidate the impact of the metallic sub-layers on the UV-PD optical performance. An overall analysis regarding the optical parameters such as the integral absorption and the total reflection is conducted. It is found that the metallic sub-layers have profound implications on modulating the electric field in the structure and facilitating photon forward scattering in the ZnO sub-layers which led to better optical behavior. Moreover, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach is proposed as a metaheuristic technique to reach effectiveness absorption through carefully adjusting the Ag and ZnO sub-layers thickness. It is confirmed that the optimized design can provide superior optical performance as compared to the conventional counterpart, where the optimized multilayer design exhibits an enhancement of 60% in the integral absorption over ZnO-based PD. The obtained results make the proposed multilayer design efficient for providing high performance PDs for communication applications.

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