The Photoelectric Properties of Graphene Materials and Applications in Photodetectors

Graphene is a kind of carbon nanomaterial with ultra-broadband optical absorption, ultra-high carrier mobility, and ultra-fast response speed, which has great potential in high-speed and broadband optoelectronic communications. Accordingly, this paper analyses the fundamental structure, electrical properties, and optical properties of graphene, along with production methods and characterization techniques. This paper focuses on the analysis of some important indicators of photodetectors, including key performance indicators such as photo responsivity, detector response time, noise equivalent power, and signal-to-noise ratio. These properties provide a systematic framework for evaluating the optical sensing capability of devices. Subsequently, the study examines various photocurrent generation mechanisms observed in graphene photodetectors, including the photovoltaic effect, photoconductive effect, photogating effect, and photothermoelectric effect, to enhance the understanding of their operating principles. Next, graphene, as a photodetector material, is compared with other two-dimensional materials to analyze their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the specific applications of graphene-based photodetectors are discussed. Finally, the potential development directions and prospects are analyzed.