UV enhanced and solar blind photodetectors based on large-band-gap materials

High quantum efficiency, UV-enhanced monocrystalline zinc sulphide optical sensors for precise radiometric and spectroscopic measurements have been developed by spray deposition of heavy fluorinedoped tin oxide thin films with carrier concentration near 10²¹ cm^-3 onto the surface of zinc sulphide monocrystals as an alternative to the UV-enhanced silicon photodetectors as well as to new detectors based on SiC and GaN. The fabricated sensors have an unbiased internal quantum efficiency that was nearly 100% from 250 to 320 nm, and the typical sensitivity at 290 nm is 0.15 A/W. The sensors were insensitive to solar radiation in earth's conditions and can be used as solar blind photodetectors for precision UV-measurements under direct solar illumination, both terrestrial and space applications.