Dependence of photocurrent in single-crystalline boron nanobelts on atmosphere

This letter describes the dependence of photocurrent of single-crystalline boron nanobelts on the atmosphere. In ambient air, slow photoresponse under blue light illumination was observed. Rise and decay times exceeded three days. The magnitude of photoresponse in ambient air and oxygen was greater than that in hydrogen and argon atmospheres. In vacuum, a photoresistivity effect consisting of the continuous decrease of conductance under blue light illumination was observed. Variation of band bending of the nanobelt surface by adsorption or desorption of oxygen and water molecules appeared to switch the photoconduction on and off by the respective trapping and recombination of photoexcited carriers at the nanobelt core and surface.