| Project ID |
BITS-SRIP/355F71/2026 |
| Project Title |
Design and Optimization of a Flexible Self-Powered Photodetector for Wearable and Optoelectronic Applications |
| Project Description |
Recent advancements in flexible electronics and low-power optoelectronic devices have opened new pathways for next-generation technologies such as wearable sensors, smart health-monitoring systems, electronic skin, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. Among these, self-powered photodetectors have emerged as highly promising components due to their ability to operate without external power sources, thereby enabling energy-efficient, compact, and autonomous systems. The integration of flexibility further enhances their applicability in wearable and conformal electronics, where mechanical adaptability and durability are critical.
This two-month research internship focuses on the design, simulation, and optimization of a flexible self-powered photodetector using advanced numerical modeling techniques. The project emphasizes the use of SCAPS-1D simulation software to analyze device physics, optimize material parameters, and predict device performance under various operating conditions. Particular attention will be given to environmentally friendly and earth-abundant semiconductor materials, such as antimony sulfide (Sb2S3), due to their favorable optoelectronic properties, low toxicity, and suitability for low-cost device fabrication.
The primary objective of the internship is to provide hands-on research experience in optoelectronic device modeling, allowing interns to explore how structural design, material selection, and interface engineering influence key photodetector performance metrics. These include responsivity, detectivity, response time, dark current, and operational stability under mechanical bending conditions. The flexible architecture of the device will be tailored to meet the requirements of wearable and portable optoelectronic applications.
Interns will be introduced to the fundamentals of photodetector operation, including light–matter interaction, charge carrier generation and transport, and built-in electric fields that enable self-powered functionality. Through systematic simulation studies, participants will investigate the effects of absorber layer thickness, defect density, doping concentration, contact materials, and interfacial layers on device efficiency and sensitivity. Additionally, the role of flexible substrates and their impact on device performance and reliability will be explored conceptually. |
| Project Discipline |
Electronics and Communication Engg., Electrical and Electronics Engg., Electronics and instrumentation Engg. or related disciplines. |
| Faculty Name |
Navneet Gupta |
| Department |
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering |
