Electrically/optically modulated polarization photodetector made of ultrafine perovskite nanoripples

Photodetectors capable of simultaneously measuring light intensity, wavelength, and polarization are pivotal for advancing optical technologies in fields ranging from autonomous systems to quantum communication. Traditional electro-optic materials like lithium niobate, while effective in modulating light properties, lack photoelectric conversion capabilities and face integration challenges. A breakthrough study now leverages halide perovskites—a class of materials celebrated for their optoelectronic prowess—to bridge this gap, combining polarization detection and electro-optic modulation in a single compact device.

By engineering ultrafine nanoripples (146 nm groove width) and micron-sized crystals in CH₃NH₃PbCl₃ perovskite films using template embossing, researchers achieved a photodetector with unprecedented performance. These structural features enable a record-high anisotropy ratio of 8.6 and precise control over polarization states through pulsed-voltage-driven ion migration and refractive index adjustments. The device demonstrates a detectivity of 2.5 × 10¹² Jones, responsivity of 1.6 A/W, and microsecond-level response speeds. “This integration of polarization sensitivity and dynamic electro-optic modulation within perovskite materials is transformative,” explained the researcher. “The material’s inherent asymmetry and optoelectronic efficiency allow multidimensional polarization currents, simplifying optical system design while enhancing functionality.”

The innovation addresses a critical bottleneck in optoelectronics: the separation of photoelectric conversion, polarization filtering, and electro-optic modulation into discrete components. By unifying these functions, the perovskite-based device paves the way for miniaturized, high-performance systems. Experimental data revealed that applying pulsed voltages (0.1 V to -0.2 V) dynamically modulates the anisotropy ratio, attributed to ion migration within the perovskite lattice and its electro-optic response. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) further confirmed chloride ion redistribution under voltage, directly influencing polarization behavior.

Potential applications span machine learning-driven optical signal processing, adaptive imaging, and next-generation photonic circuits. The device’s ability to visualize polarization modulation and generate multidimensional currents could revolutionize integrated optical systems, reducing reliance on bulky components like polarizers and wave plates. Future efforts will focus on improving material stability and scalability for industrial deployment, with broader implications for wearable healthcare technologies and metaverse-ready human-machine interfaces.

Other contributors include Cai, Yuchen; Pan, Xiyan; Jin, Ke; Chen, Xiangyu; Yan, Keyou; Zhu, Xuhui; Jiang, Tao; Yang, Junliang; Ji, Shaomin; Yuan, Yongbo; Chang, Jingjing.

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFB3803300, 2023YFE0116800), Beijing Natural Science Foundation (IS23037).

About the Authors

Jie Sun, a direct PhD student at the National Center for Nanoscience, with a major research interest in perovskite polarized optoelectronic devices.

Liming Ding, Professor, B.D. List of top 0.05% of global scientists in 2024 (ScholarGPS No.429). joined the National Center for Nanoscience (NCMS) in 2010 (Introduced by Hundred Talents Program). joined Guangdong University of Technology in 2025. His current research work includes perovskite solar cells, organic solar cells, and photodetectors. He has published 570 papers in Science, Nature, JACS, Joule, Angew Chem, Energy Environ Sci, Nature Comm, Adv Mater, and other scientific journals. The highest number of citations for a single paper is 2949. He has published one English monograph on perovskite materials and devices and one English monograph on organic solar cells. 10 patents. For more information, please pay attention to his research homepage https://qghgxy.gdut.edu.cn/info/1093/12118.htm.

About Nano Research

Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.