ABSTRACT
Photodetectors (PDs) are one of the optoelectronic devices that are extensively used universally in diverse applications Typically, an external power source is desirable for the operation of conventional devices, including PDs, which is unfavorable in dealing with the energy crises worldwide. Perhaps self-powered devices are a suitable approach for energy saving. These devices are designed to generate sufficient energy required for their operation. Self-powered photodetectors (SPPDs) are one of the devices of the aforesaid class. A number of materials have been exploited for the fabrication of SPPDs in recent years and are thereby regarded as energy-saving materials. This chapter will present an overview of various materials like perovskite, metal oxides, MOFs, semiconductors, nanostructures including 2D materials like graphene, MXene, metal di-chalocogenides, and brophene, among others, being extensively used in designing SPPDs. The brief introduction starts with the working principle and types of PDs, figures of merit, the general mechanism, and advantages of SPPDs. The subsequent section will present an elaborated scenario of past and recent developments, material properties, and methods that gives rise to self-power generation. Further, some multifarious effects that are harnessed to boost the energy-saving characteristics are discussed in the next section, followed by the conclusion of the chapter.
