This abstract reports the realization of p-type conduction in Sb (5 at.%): Mg0.10Zn0.90O (SMZO) grown in different growth ambient and then fabrication of SMZO/n-Si based UV heterojunction photodetector grown by dual ion beam sputtering (DIBS) system. The fabricated photodetectors were then probed for the effect of growth ambient using current–voltage (I–V) and photoresponse measurement on photodetector properties. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.