Metal-organic framework single crystal infrared photodetector

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of functional materials possessing the coupled optical and electrical responses necessary for the operation of modern optoelectronic devices. Yet, the realization of near infrared MOF-based photodetector is still a challenge. Here, we report on the MOF single crystal photodetector with 600–1000 nm spectral range, overlapping with the efficient optical absorption of the MOF (HKUST-1), converting the light energy to electric one. We detect that 0.1 s response rate of the detector turned out to be higher than the previously announced MOF-based photodetectors, that is due to the fairly fast and reversible process of desorption of coordinated water molecules underlying the mechanism of charge carrier generation. We also confirm the 1 mJ cm−2 fluence for the threshold photodetection due to a photostimulated change in the optical properties of the MOF, rather than its degradation, which paves the way to fast and multiple detection of a low-intensity infrared laser light on the MOF single crystal.