Ultra-broadband, fast, and polarization-sensitive photoresponse of low-symmetry 2D NdSb₂

Broadband photodetectors with polarization-sensitive ability have received extraordinary attention for modern optoelectronic devices. Ideal photodetectors should possess high responsivity, fast response, and good stability, which are rare to meet at the same time in one low-symmetric two-dimentional (2D) material. In this work, neodymium diantimonides (NdSb₂), a member of light rare-earth diantimonides RSb₂ (R = La–Nd, Sm) with low-symmetry structure, is introduced as a fascinating highly anisotropic 2D material for broadband detection (532 nm to 4 µm). The photodetector exhibits a responsivity of 0.49 mA·W⁻¹ with 15 µs response time at 532 nm and highly stable performance under ambient conditions over 8 months. Furthermore, we identify the polarization-sensitive photoresponse of the detector and demonstrate a high anisotropic factor ~ 1.6. In addition, strong in-plane anisotropy is revealed by anisotropic phonon response and the photodetection mechanism is investigated by scanning photocurrent microscopy measurements. This pioneer work on NdSb₂ paves the way for further exploration of 2D RSb₂ for high performance polarized photodetectors with fast photothermoelectric response.