Charge-Transfer-Induced Photoluminescence Properties of WSe2 Monolayer-Bilayer Homojunction

Spatiotemporal evolution of ultrafast photocarrier dynamics across WS2-ReS2 lateral interface

2D lateral heterostructures possess atomically sharp lateral interfaces, while understanding of their ultrafast photocarrier dynamics from a spatiotemporal viewpoint is rather elusive. In this study, we have investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of photocarrier dynamics across the 1D lateral interface of a WS2-ReS2 2D lateral heterostructure utilizing femtosecond laser pump-probe. The nontrivial band offset across the 1D lateral interface markedly mediates the spatiotemporal photocarrier transfer and transport processes. Subsequently, a hole accumulation region on the WS2 side and an electron accumulation region (1DEG) on the ReS2 side have been spatially identified by correlating ultrafast photocarrier signals. The measured width of the unilateral depletion region is 1360 ± 160 nm. Our work has provided substantial insights into mediated photocarrier dynamics in the 2D lateral heterostructure, which will benefit explorations in 2D interfacial physics and 2D lateral optoelectronic devices.

Ultrafast Charge Transfer and Recombination Dynamics in Monolayer-Multilayer WSe2 Junctions Revealed by Time-Resolved Photoemission Electron Microscopy

The ultrafast carrier dynamics of junctions between two chemically identical, but electronically distinct, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) remains largely unknown. Here, we employ time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (TR-PEEM) to probe the ultrafast carrier dynamics of a monolayer-to-multilayer (1L-ML) WSe2 junction. The TR-PEEM signals recorded for the individual components of the junction reveal the sub-ps carrier cooling dynamics of 1L- and 7L-WSe2, as well as few-ps exciton-exciton annihilation occurring on 1L-WSe2. We observe ultrafast interfacial hole (h) transfer from 1L- to 7L-WSe2 on an ∼0.2 ps time scale. The resultant excess h density in 7L-WSe2 decays by carrier recombination across the junction interface on an ∼100 ps time scale. Reminiscent of the behavior at a depletion region, the TR-PEEM image reveals the h density accumulation on the 7L-WSe2 interface, with a decay length ∼0.60 ± 0.17 μm. These charge transfer and recombination dynamics are in agreement with ab initio quantum dynamics. The computed orbital densities reveal that charge transfer occurs from the basal plane, which extends over both 1L and ML regions, to the upper plane localized on the ML region. This mode of charge transfer is distinctive to chemically homogeneous junctions of layered materials and constitutes an additional carrier deactivation pathway that should be considered in studies of 1L-TMDs found alongside their ML, a common occurrence in exfoliated samples.

Photoluminescence Enhancement of Monolayer WS2 by n-Doping with an Optically Excited Gold Disk

In nanophotonics and quantum optics, we aim to control and manipulate light with tailored nanoscale structures. Hybrid systems of nanostructures and atomically thin materials are of interest here, as they offer rich physics and versatility due to the interaction between photons, plasmons, phonons, and excitons. In this study, we explore the optical and electronic properties of a hybrid system, a naturally n-doped monolayer WS2 covering a gold disk. We demonstrate that the nonresonant excitation of the gold disk in the high absorption regime efficiently generates hot carriers via localized surface plasmon excitation, which n-dope the monolayer WS2 and enhance the photoluminescence emission by regulating the multiexciton population and stabilizing the neutral exciton emission. The results are relevant to the further development of nanotransistors in photonic circuits and optoelectronic applications.

Near-Unity-Efficiency Energy Transfer from Perovskite to Monolayer Semiconductor through Long-Range Migration and Asymmetric Interfacial Transfer

van der Waals heterostructures combining perovskites of strong light absorption with atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) hold great potential for light-harvesting and optoelectronic applications. However, current research studies integrating TMDs with low-dimensional perovskite nanomaterials generally suffer from poor carrier/energy transport and harnessing, stemming from poor interfacial interaction due to the nanostructured nature and ligands on surface/interface. To overcome the limitations, here, we report prototypical three-dimensional (3D)/2D perovskite/TMD heterostructures by combing highly smooth and ligand-free CsPbBr₃ film with a WSe₂ monolayer. We show that the energy transfer at interface occurs through asymmetric two-step charge-transfer process, with ultrafast hole transfer in ∼200 fs and subsequent electron transfer in ∼10 ps, driven by the asymmetric type I band alignment. The energy migration and transfer from CsPbBr₃ film to WSe₂ can be well described by a one-dimensional diffusion model with a carrier diffusion length of ∼500 nm in CsPbBr₃ film. Thanks to the long-range carrier migration and ultrafast interfacial transfer, highly efficient (>90%) energy transfer to WSe₂ can be achieved with CsPbBr₃ film as thick as ∼180 nm, which can capture most of the light above its band gap. The efficient light and energy harvesting in perovskite/TMD 3D/2D heterostructures suggest great promise in optoelectronic and photonic devices.

2D Homojunctions for Electronics and Optoelectronics

In the post-Moore era, 2D materials with rich physical properties have attracted widespread attention from the scientific and industrial communities. Among 2D materials, the 2D homojunctions are of great promise in designing novel electronic and optoelectronic devices due to their unique geometries and properties such as homogeneous components, perfect lattice matching, and efficient charge transfer at the interface. In this article, a pioneering review focusing on the structural design and device application of 2D homojunctions such as p-n homojunctions, heterophase homojunctions, and layer-engineered homojunctions is provided. The preparation strategies to construct 2D homojunctions including vapor-phase deposition, lithium intercalation, laser irradiation, chemical doping, electrostatic doping, and photodoping are summarized in detail. Specifically, a careful review on the applications of the 2D homojunctions in electronics (e.g., field-effect transistors, rectifiers, and inverters) and optoelectronics (e.g., light-emitting diodes, photovoltaics, and photodetectors) is provided. Eventually, the current challenges and future perspectives are commented for promoting the rapid development of 2D homojunctions.

Microsphere-coupled light emission control of van der Waals heterostructures

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) integrated into photonic structures provide an intriguing playground for the development of novel optoelectronic devices with improved performance. Here, we show the enhanced light emission from TMDC based van der Waals heterostructures through coupling with microsphere cavities. We observe cavity-induced emission enhancement of TMDC materials which varies by an order of magnitude, depending on the size of the microsphere and thickness of the supporting oxide substrate. Furthermore, we demonstrate microsphere cavity-enhanced electroluminescence of a van der Waals light emitting transistor, showing the potential of 2D material based hybrid optoelectronic structures.

Direct bilayer growth: a new growth principle for a novel WSe2 homo-junction and bilayer WSe2 growth

Homo-junction and multi-layer structures of transition metal chalcogenide (TMD) materials provide great flexibility for band-structure engineering and designing photoelectric devices. However, the knowledge of van der Waals epitaxy growth limits the development of these heterostructures. Herein, we employed the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth strategy to synthesize novel WSe₂ homo-junction samples with a triangular monolayer in the center and three AA stacking bilayer flakes connected to the vertexes of the monolayer. The emitted photon energy from the bilayer near the junction showed a blueshift in energy of up to 24 meV compared with bare bilayer WSe₂, confirming the charge transfer effect from monolayer to bilayer WSe₂. Further growth studies revealed the shape evolution from WSe₂ homo-junction to bilayer. The whole homo-junction formation and evolution process cannot be explained by the traditional layer-by-layer growth mechanism. Instead, a direct bilayer growth approach is proposed to explain the bilayer formation and evolution at the vertexes of the bottom layer of WSe₂. These findings suggest that the growth of bilayer TMDs is more complex than our previous understanding. This work presents deepens insight into van der Waals epitaxy growth, and thus is valuable for guiding the fabrication of novel homo-junctions for both fundamental science and optoelectronic applications.