A substitutional quantum defect in WS2 discovered by high-throughput computational screening and fabricated by site-selective STM manipulation

Point defects in two-dimensional materials are of key interest for quantum information science. However, the parameter space of possible defects is immense, making the identification of high-performance quantum defects very challenging. Here, we perform high-throughput (HT) first-principles computational screening to search for promising quantum defects within WS2, which present localized levels in the band gap that can lead to bright optical transitions in the visible or telecom regime. Our computed database spans more than 700 charged defects formed through substitution on the tungsten or sulfur site. We found that sulfur substitutions enable the most promising quantum defects. We computationally identify the neutral cobalt substitution to sulfur (CoS 0 ) and fabricate it with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The CoS 0 electronic structure measured by STM agrees with first principles and showcases an attractive quantum defect. Our work shows how HT computational screening and nanoscale synthesis routes can be combined to design promising quantum defects.

Directive giant upconversion by supercritical bound states in the continuum

Photonic bound states in the continuum (BICs), embedded in the spectrum of free-space waves1,2 with diverging radiative quality factor, are topologically non-trivial dark modes in open-cavity resonators that have enabled important advances in photonics3,4. However, it is particularly challenging to achieve maximum near-field enhancement, as this requires matching radiative and non-radiative losses. Here we propose the concept of supercritical coupling, drawing inspiration from electromagnetically induced transparency in near-field coupled resonances close to the Friedrich-Wintgen condition2. Supercritical coupling occurs when the near-field coupling between dark and bright modes compensates for the negligible direct far-field coupling with the dark mode. This enables a quasi-BIC field to reach maximum enhancement imposed by non-radiative loss, even when the radiative quality factor is divergent. Our experimental design consists of a photonic-crystal nanoslab covered with upconversion nanoparticles. Near-field coupling is finely tuned at the nanostructure edge, in which a coherent upconversion luminescence enhanced by eight orders of magnitude is observed. The emission shows negligible divergence, narrow width at the microscale and controllable directivity through input focusing and polarization. This approach is relevant to various physical processes, with potential applications for light-source development, energy harvesting and photochemical catalysis.

Polariton Condensation in Gap-Confined States of Photonic Crystal Waveguides

The development of patterned multiquantum well heterostructures in GaAs/AlGaAs waveguides has recently made it possible to achieve exciton-polariton condensation in a topologically protected bound state in the continuum (BIC). Polariton condensation was shown to occur above a saddle point of the two-dimensional polariton dispersion in a one-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide. A rigorous analysis of the condensation phenomenon in these systems, as well as the role of the BIC, is still missing. In the present Letter, we theoretically and experimentally fill this gap by showing that polariton confinement resulting from the negative effective mass and the photonic energy gap in the dispersion play a key role in enhancing the relaxation toward the condensed state. In fact, our results show that low-threshold polariton condensation is achieved within the effective trap created by the exciting laser spot, regardless of whether the resulting confined mode is long-lived (polariton BIC) or short-lived (lossy mode). In both cases, the spatial quantization of the polariton condensate and the threshold differences associated to the corresponding state lifetime are measured and characterized. For a given negative mass, a slightly lower condensation threshold from the polariton BIC mode is found and associated to its reduced radiative losses, as compared to the lossy one.

All-silicon quantum light source by embedding an atomic emissive center in a nanophotonic cavity

Silicon is the most scalable optoelectronic material but has suffered from its inability to generate directly and efficiently classical or quantum light on-chip. Scaling and integration are the most fundamental challenges facing quantum science and technology. We report an all-silicon quantum light source based on a single atomic emissive center embedded in a silicon-based nanophotonic cavity. We observe a more than 30-fold enhancement of luminescence, a near-unity atom-cavity coupling efficiency, and an 8-fold acceleration of the emission from the all-silicon quantum emissive center. Our work opens immediate avenues for large-scale integrated cavity quantum electrodynamics and quantum light-matter interfaces with applications in quantum communication and networking, sensing, imaging, and computing.

Integrating collapsible plasmonic gaps on near-field probes for polarization-resolved mapping of plasmon-enhanced emission in 2D material

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is an important technique used to study the optical properties of material systems at the nanoscale. In previous work, we reported on the use of nanoimprinting to improve the reproducibility and throughput of near-field probes including complicated optical antenna structures such as the 'campanile' probe. However, precise control over the plasmonic gap size, which determines the near-field enhancement and spatial resolution, remains a challenge. Here, we present a novel approach to fabricating a sub-20 nm plasmonic gap in a near-field plasmonic probe through the controlled collapse of imprinted nanostructures using atomic layer deposition (ALD) coatings to define the gap width. The resulting ultranarrow gap at the apex of the probe provides a strong polarization-sensitive near-field optical response, which results in an enhancement of the optical transmission in a broad wavelength range from 620 to 820 nm, enabling tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL) mapping of 2-dimensional (2D) materials. We demonstrate the potential of this near-field probe by mapping a 2D exciton coupled to a linearly polarized plasmonic resonance with below 30 nm spatial resolution. This work proposes a novel approach for integrating a plasmonic antenna at the apex of the near-field probe, paving the way for the fundamental study of light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.

Near-Field Coupling with a Nanoimprinted Probe for Dark Exciton Nanoimaging in Monolayer WSe2

Tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TRPL) is a powerful technique for spatially and spectrally probing local optical properties of 2-dimensional (2D) materials that are modulated by the local heterogeneities, revealing inaccessible dark states due to bright state overlap in conventional far-field microscopy at room temperature. While scattering-type near-field probes have shown the potential to selectively enhance and reveal dark exciton emission, their technical complexity and sensitivity can pose challenges under certain experimental conditions. Here, we present a highly reproducible and easy-to-fabricate near-field probe based on nanoimprint lithography and fiber-optic excitation and collection. The novel near-field measurement configuration provides an ∼3 orders of magnitude out-of-plane Purcell enhancement, diffraction-limited excitation spot, and subdiffraction hyperspectral imaging resolution (below 50 nm) of dark exciton emission. The effectiveness of this high spatial X_D mapping technique was then demonstrated through reproducible hyperspectral mapping of oxidized sites and bubble areas.

Transferable nano-patterned ALD Membrane

We demonstrate fabrication of nano-patterned thin ALD (Atomic layer deposition) membrane (suspended/transferable) by using a bi-layer resist process where the bottom layer resist acts as a sacrificial layer. This method enables an all dry deterministic transfer of nano-patterned ALD membrane on desired substrate, allowing assembly of multitude of hetero-structures \& functionalities that are not yet accessible. Unlike conventional ways of achieving patterned alumina membrane reported in literature our technique requires significantly less fabrication steps and paves the way for novel ALD membrane-based technology.

Sharp, high numerical aperture (NA), nanoimprinted bare pyramid probe for optical mapping

The ability to correlate optical hyperspectral mapping and high resolution topographic imaging is critically important to gain deep insight into the structure-function relationship of nanomaterial systems. Scanning near-field optical microscopy can achieve this goal, but at the cost of significant effort in probe fabrication and experimental expertise. To overcome these two limitations, we have developed a low-cost and high-throughput nanoimprinting technique to integrate a sharp pyramid structure on the end facet of a single-mode fiber that can be scanned with a simple tuning-fork technique. The nanoimprinted pyramid has two main features: (1) a large taper angle (∼70°), which determines the far-field confinement at the tip, resulting in a spatial resolution of 275 nm, an effective numerical aperture of 1.06, and (2) a sharp apex with a radius of curvature of ∼20 nm, which enables high resolution topographic imaging. Optical performance is demonstrated through evanescent field distribution mapping of a plasmonic nanogroove sample, followed by hyperspectral photoluminescence mapping of nanocrystals using a fiber-in-fiber-out light coupling mode. Through comparative photoluminescence mapping on 2D monolayers, we also show a threefold improvement in spatial resolution over chemically etched fibers. These results show that the bare nanoimprinted near-field probes provide simple access to spectromicroscopy correlated with high resolution topographic mapping and have the potential to advance reproducible fiber-tip-based scanning near-field microscopy.

Scalable single-mode surface emitting laser via open-Dirac singularities

Single-aperture cavities are a key component of lasers, instrumental for the amplification and emission of a single light mode. However, the appearance of high-order transverse modes as cavities size increases has frustrated efforts to scale up cavities whilst preserving single-mode operation since the invention of the laser six decades ago^1-8. A suitable physical mechanism that allows single-mode lasing irrespective of the cavity size - a "scale-invariant" cavity or laser - has not been identified yet. Here, we propose and demonstrate experimentally that open-Dirac electromagnetic cavities with linear dispersion - which in our devices are realized by a truncated photonic crystal arranged in a hexagonal pattern - exhibit unconventional scaling of losses in reciprocal space, leading to single-mode lasing that is maintained as the cavity is scaled up in size. The physical origin of this phenomenon lies in the convergence of the complex part of the free spectral range in open-Dirac cavities towards a constant governed by the loss rate of distinct Bloch band, while for common cavities it converges to zero as the size grows, leading to inevitable multi-mode emission. An unconventional flat envelope fundamental mode locks all unit-cells in the cavity in phase, leading to single-mode lasing. We name such sources Berkeley Surface Emitting Lasers (BerkSELs) and demonstrate that their far-field corresponds to a topological singularity of charge two, in agreement with our theory. Open-Dirac cavities unlock new avenues for light-matter interaction and cavity quantum electrodynamics.

Identifying substitutional oxygen as a prolific point defect in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides

Chalcogen vacancies are generally considered to be the most common point defects in transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors because of their low formation energy in vacuum and their frequent observation in transmission electron microscopy studies. Consequently, unexpected optical, transport, and catalytic properties in 2D-TMDs have been attributed to in-gap states associated with chalcogen vacancies, even in the absence of direct experimental evidence. Here, we combine low-temperature non-contact atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, and state-of-the-art ab initio density functional theory and GW calculations to determine both the atomic structure and electronic properties of an abundant chalcogen-site point defect common to MoSe2 and WS2 monolayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapor deposition, respectively. Surprisingly, we observe no in-gap states. Our results strongly suggest that the common chalcogen defects in the described 2D-TMD semiconductors, measured in vacuum environment after gentle annealing, are oxygen substitutional defects, rather than vacancies.

A nanochannel through a plasmonic antenna gap: an integrated device for single particle counting

Plasmonic nanoantennas are ideal for single molecule detection since they nano-focus the light beyond diffraction and enhance the optical fields by several orders of magnitude. But delivering the molecules into these nanometric hot-spots is a real challenge. Here, we present a dynamic sensor, with label-free real-time detection capabilities, which can detect and count molecules and particles one by one in their native environment independently of their concentration. To this end, we have integrated a 35 nm gap plasmonic bowtie antenna with a 30 nm × 30 nm nanochannel. The channel runs through the antenna gap, and delivers the analyte directly into the hot spot. We show how the antenna probes into zeptoliter volumes inside the nanochannel by observing the dark field resonance shift during the filling process of a non-fluorescent liquid. Moreover, we detect and count single quantum dots, one by one, at ultra-high concentrations of up to 25 mg mL-1. The nano-focusing of light, reduces the observation volume in five orders of magnitude compared to the diffraction limited spot, beating the diffraction limit. These results prove the unique sensitivity of the device and in the future can be extended to detection of a variety of molecules for biomedical applications.

Atomic layer deposition for spacer defined double patterning of sub-10 nm titanium dioxide features

The next generation of hard disk drive technology for data storage densities beyond 5 Tb/in² will require single-bit patterning of features with sub-10 nm dimensions by nanoimprint lithography. To address this challenge master templates are fabricated using pattern multiplication with atomic layer deposition (ALD). Sub-10 nm lithography requires a solid understanding of materials and their interactions. In this work we study two important oxide materials, silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide, as the pattern spacer and look at their interactions with carbon, chromium and silicon dioxide. We found that thermal titanium dioxide ALD allows for the conformal deposition of a spacer layer without damaging the carbon mandrel and eliminates the surface modification due to the reactivity of the metal-organic precursor. Finally, using self-assembled block copolymer lithography and thermal titanium dioxide spacer fabrication, we demonstrate pattern doubling with 7.5 nm half-pitch spacer features.

Titanium Disulfide Coated Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Electrodes Enable High Energy Density Symmetric Pseudocapacitors

While electrochemical supercapacitors often show high power density and long operation lifetimes, they are plagued by limited energy density. Pseudocapacitive materials, in contrast, operate by fast surface redox reactions and are shown to enhance energy storage of supercapacitors. Furthermore, several reported systems exhibit high capacitance but restricted electrochemical voltage windows, usually no more than 1 V in aqueous electrolytes. Here, it is demonstrated that vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) with uniformly coated, pseudocapacitive titanium disulfide (TiS₂ ) composite electrodes can extend the stable working range to over 3 V to achieve a high capacitance of 195 F g^-1 in an Li-rich electrolyte. A symmetric cell demonstrates an energy density of 60.9 Wh kg^-1 -the highest among symmetric pseudocapacitors using metal oxides, conducting polymers, 2D transition metal carbides (MXene), and other transition metal dichalcogenides. Nanostructures prepared by an atomic layer deposition/sulfurization process facilitate ion transportation and surface reactions to result in a high power density of 1250 W kg^-1 with stable operation over 10 000 cycles. A flexible solid-state supercapacitor prepared by transferring the TiS₂ -VACNT composite film onto Kapton tape is demonstrated to power a 2.2 V light emitting diode (LED) for 1 min.

A multifunctional biphasic water splitting catalyst tailored for integration with high-performance semiconductor photoanodes

Artificial photosystems are advanced by the development of conformal catalytic materials that promote desired chemical transformations, while also maintaining stability and minimizing parasitic light absorption for integration on surfaces of semiconductor light absorbers. Here, we demonstrate that multifunctional, nanoscale catalysts that enable high-performance photoelectrochemical energy conversion can be engineered by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The collective properties of tailored Co₃O₄/Co(OH)₂ thin films simultaneously provide high activity for water splitting, permit efficient interfacial charge transport from semiconductor substrates, and enhance durability of chemically sensitive interfaces. These films comprise compact and continuous nanocrystalline Co₃O₄ spinel that is impervious to phase transformation and impermeable to ions, thereby providing effective protection of the underlying substrate. Moreover, a secondary phase of structurally disordered and chemically labile Co(OH)₂ is introduced to ensure a high concentration of catalytically active sites. Application of this coating to photovoltaic p⁺n-Si junctions yields best reported performance characteristics for crystalline Si photoanodes.

Gain and Raman line-broadening with graphene coated diamond-shape nano-antennas

Using Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS), we report on intensity-dependent broadening in graphene-deposited broad-band antennas. The antenna gain curve includes both the incident frequency and some of the scattered mode frequencies. By comparing antennas with various gaps and types (bow-tie vs. diamond-shape antennas) we make the case that the line broadening did not originate from strain, thermal or surface potential. Strain, if present, further shifts and broadens those Raman lines that are included within the antenna gain curve.

Triggering and monitoring plasmon-enhanced reactions by optical nanoantennas coupled to photocatalytic beads

Plasmonic metal/semiconductor nanocomposites promise to be a breakthrough for boosting and investigating photon-assisted processes at the nanoscale, with exciting perspectives for energy conversion and catalysis. However, the efficiency and selectivity of these surface processes are still far from being controlled. Here, shown for the first time, is a new class of photocatalyst which is based on the synergistic combination of bowtie-like gold nanoantennas and SiO2 /TiO2 core/shell oxide beads. These systems are exploited as efficient near-field optical light concentrators, stimulating photon-driven processes at the metal-semiconductor interface. Extraordinary enhancements of photodegradation rates (minutes instead of hours) result from matching the nanoantenna surface plasmon resonance with the optical absorption of organic dyes and the excitation source wavelength. Moreover, strong Raman enhancements are observed allowing for direct in-situ monitoring of reaction progress of different analytes on the same site.

Hyperspectral nanoscale imaging on dielectric substrates with coaxial optical antenna scan probes

We have demonstrated hyperspectral tip-enhanced Raman imaging on dielectric substrates using linearly polarized light and nanofabricated coaxial antenna tips. A full Raman spectrum was acquired at each pixel of a 256 by 256 pixel contact-mode atomic force microscope image of carbon nanotubes grown on a fused silica microscope coverslip, allowing D and G mode intensity and D-mode peak shifts to be measured with ∼20 nm spatial resolution. Tip enhancement was sufficient to acquire useful Raman spectra in 50-100 ms. Coaxial scan probes combine the efficiency and enhanced, ultralocalized optical fields of plasmonically coupled antennae with the superior topographical imaging properties of sharp metal tips. The yield of the coaxial tip fabrication process is close to 100%, and the tips are sufficiently durable to support hours of contact-mode force microscope imaging. Our coaxial probes avoid the limitations associated with the "gap-mode" imaging geometry used in most tip-enhanced Raman studies to date, where a sharp metal tip is held ∼1 nm above a metallic substrate with the sample located in the gap.

Direct chemical vapor deposition of graphene on dielectric surfaces

Direct deposition of graphene on various dielectric substrates is demonstrated using a single-step chemical vapor deposition process. Single-layer graphene is formed through surface catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbon precursors on thin copper films predeposited on dielectric substrates. The copper films dewet and evaporate during or immediately after graphene growth, resulting in graphene deposition directly on the bare dielectric substrates. Scanning Raman mapping and spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy confirm the presence of continuous graphene layers on tens of micrometer square metal-free areas. The revealed growth mechanism opens new opportunities for deposition of higher quality graphene films on dielectric materials.

Functional plasmonic antenna scanning probes fabricated by induced-deposition mask lithography

We have fabricated plasmonic bowtie antennae on the apex of silicon atomic-force microscope cantilever tips that enhance the local silicon Raman scattering intensity by approximately 4 x 10(4) when excited near the antenna resonance. The antennae were fabricated using a novel method, induced-deposition mask lithography (IDML), capable of creating high-purity metallic nanostructures on non-planar, non-conducting substrates with high repeatability. IDML involves electron-beam-induced deposition of a W or SiO(x) hard mask on the material to be pattered, here a 20 nm Au film, followed by Ar ion etching to remove the mask and the unmasked gold, leaving a chemically pure Au bowtie antenna. Antenna function and reproducibility was confirmed by comparing Raman spectra for excitation polarized parallel and perpendicular to the antenna axis, as well as by dark-field spectroscopic characterization of resonant modes. The field enhancement of these plasmonic AFM antennae tips was comparable with antennae produced by electron-beam lithography on flat substrates.

Rapid, solution-based characterization of optimized SERS nanoparticle substrates

We demonstrate the rapid optical characterization of large numbers of individual metal nanoparticles freely diffusing in colloidal solution by confocal laser spectroscopy to guide nanoparticle engineering and optimization. We use ratios of the Rayleigh and Raman scattering response and rotational diffusion timescales of individual nanoparticles to show that hollow gold nanospheres and solid silver nanoparticle dimers linked with a bifunctional ligand, both specifically designed nanostructures, exhibit significantly higher monodispersity than randomly aggregated gold and silver nanoparticles.

Silica-Coated CdTe Quantum Dots Functionalized with Thiols for Bioconjugation to IgG Proteins

Quantum dots (QDs) have been increasingly used in biolabeling recently as their advantages over molecular fluorophores have become clear. For bioapplications QDs must be water-soluble and buffer stable, making their synthesis challenging and time-consuming. A simple aqueous synthesis of silica-capped, highly fluorescent CdTe quantum dots has been developed. CdTe QDs are advantageous as the emission can be tuned to the near-infrared where tissue absorption is at a minimum, while the silica shell can prevent the leakage of toxic Cd(2+) and provide a surface for easy conjugation to biomolecules such as proteins. The presence of a silica shell of 2-5 nm in thickness has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements. Photoluminescence studies show that the silica shell results in greatly increased photostability in Tris-borate-ethylenediaminetetraacetate and phosphate-buffered saline buffers. To further improve their biocompatibility, the silica-capped QDs have been functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) and thiol-terminated biolinkers. Through the use of these linkers, antibody proteins were successfully conjugated as confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Streptavidin-maleimide and biotinylated polystyrene microbeads confirmed the bioactivity and conjugation specificity of the thiolated QDs. These functionalized, silica-capped QDs are ideal labels, easily synthesized, robust, safe, and readily conjugated to biomolecules while maintaining bioactivity. They are potentially useful for a number of applications in biolabeling and imaging.