Domain engineered gallium oxide phototransistors enabling intelligent ultraviolet vision with dynamic gating

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Authors: J. P. Kim, Byungsoo Kim, Hee A Kim, Gi Baek Nam, Hyuk Jin Kim, Yoon Jung Lee, S. H. Kim, Suin Yi, Yongjo Park, Ho Won Jang
Cited by: 2
References: 37

Abstract

Abstract Domain‐induced carrier scattering and persistent photoconductivity (PPC) remain major bottlenecks in β‐Ga 2 O 3 ‐based deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) photodetectors, limiting their use in high‐speed imaging, optical communication, and neuromorphic sensing systems. Here, we propose a materials–circuits co‐design strategy that integrates crystallographic domain engineering with pulsed‐gate modulation to overcome these challenges. Si‐doped β‐Ga 2 O 3 thin films were epitaxially grown on 6° off‐axis sapphire substrates, where atomic step edges induced single‐domain alignment, resulting in improved lateral carrier transport and reduced leakage current compared with on‐axis counterparts. Under comparable pulsed conditions, single‐domain devices exhibited faster recovery than previously reported β‐Ga 2 O 3 phototransistors, highlighting the synergistic interplay between domain‐engineered transport and dynamic gating. As a result, the devices achieved a high detectivity ( D *) of 9.17 × 10 15 Jones and a fast photoresponse of 0.7 ms under reset conditions, while maintaining stable and energy‐efficient operation under sub‐volt bias. Beyond individual devices, the optimized phototransistors were integrated into a 24 × 24 active‐pixel array for system‐level DUV imaging. Coupled with convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the array achieved accurate pattern recognition and image reconstruction, while synaptic depression and active reset processes enabled rapid afterimage suppression and image recovery. Overall, this work establishes a domain‐engineered, pulse‐modulated β‐Ga 2 O 3 phototransistor platform that unifies materials‐, device‐, and system‐level innovations, providing a scalable and energy‐efficient route toward intelligent ultraviolet vision. image

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ga2O3 and related materials Transition Metal Oxide Nanomaterials Photocathodes and Microchannel Plates

Publication details

Journal / source
InfoMat
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
8
Issue
5
Publication date
26 January 2026
Language
EN