About this ebook
This primer is designed for graduate students or early-career scientists who are embarking on a project or collaboration involving photodetectors, regardless of whether their background is in physics, chemistry, materials science, or engineering. The authors aim to provide a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the fundamentals of photodetection, the classification and working mechanisms of photodetectors, and the key figures-of-merit that define device performance. The authors hope readers with limited prior experience in optoelectronics will find the foundational explanations helpful. At the same time, those with more advanced knowledge can use this primer as a reference for current trends and challenges in the field.
Throughout this primer, the goal is not only to present the state-of-the-art in photodetector research but also to foster interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration. Photodetector technologies intersect with physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, and even computer science, and readers are encouraged to explore the cited references and further readings for deeper insights. Whether the readers are embarking on their first photodetector project, seeking to expand their expertise, or looking for inspiration for future research, this primer will serve as a valuable resource and guide in their scientific journey.
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About the author
Ming Deng is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Applied Physics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research focuses on the development of advanced optoelectronic semiconductor materials and functional devices. He received his M.Eng. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Fudan University in 2025 under the supervision of Prof. Xiaosheng Fang, where his research centered on the fabrication and function design of ultraviolet photodetectors. Previously, he earned his B.Sc. degree in Material Chemistry from Fudan University in 2022.
Xinyu Zhang received her M.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering from Fudan University, China, in 2024, under the supervision of Prof. Xiaosheng Fang. Her academic background includes studies on high-performance photodetectors based on quasi-2D metal halide perovskites for imaging applications. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore, where she continues to pursue advanced research in related fields.
Xiaosheng Fang is a Professor in the College of Smart Materials and Future Energy at Fudan University. He received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, he conducted research at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan, serving as a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellow and later as a Tenure-track Researcher. He joined Fudan University as a Professor in 2010. His current research interests are primarily focused on micro/nanostructured semiconductors and their applications in advanced photodetectors.
