Enhancing meandering VO2 microwire bolometer sensitivity via confined electron layer

A Arun Sehrawat (Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,) S Swapnendu Narayan Ghosh (Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,) A Amrita Singh S Souvik Haldar (Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,) S Sonika Singh (Department of School of Interdisciplinary Research, Indian Institute of Technology 2 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,) A Ananya Borkotoky (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur 5 , Kanpur 208016,) A Amit Verma A Ankur Goswami (Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,) K Krishna B. Balasubramanian (Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,)

Abstract

VO2 bolometers offer excellent detection sensitivity, especially when temperature biased close to the transition temperature. We show here that a tunable-sensitivity bolometer with an extended range can be achieved using VO2 thin films using a specially designed gated meander device structure. While the electric field does not influence the transition temperature of the meandering microwire, a two-dimensional confined electron layer is observed to emerge upon the application of a lateral gate field, leading to improved photosensitivity, by up to 50%, over a wide range of incidence laser powers without any external temperature bias. Our results highlight that electric field control in VO2 facilitates low-power operation, underscoring its potential for energy-efficient and long-lasting electronic applications.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 9
Published March 02, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

A

Arun Sehrawat

Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,

S

Swapnendu Narayan Ghosh

Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,

A

Amrita Singh

S

Souvik Haldar

Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,

S

Sonika Singh

Department of School of Interdisciplinary Research, Indian Institute of Technology 2 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,

A

Ananya Borkotoky

Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur 5 , Kanpur 208016,

A

Amit Verma

A

Ankur Goswami

Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,

K

Krishna B. Balasubramanian

Department of Material Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 Delhi, New Delhi 110016,