All-Optical Valley Polarization Switch via Controlling Spin-Triplet and Spin-Singlet Interlayer Exciton Emission in WS/WSe Heterostructure.

Although selective singlet and triplet interlayer exciton (IX) emission of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) heterostructures can be achieved by applying an electric or magnetic field, the device structure is complex and a low temperature is usually required. Here, we demonstrate a simple all-optical approach to selectively enhance the emission of singlet and triplet IX by selectively coupling singlet or triplet IX of a WS/WSe heterostructure to a SiO microsphere cavity. Angle-resolved photoluminescene reveals that the transition dipole of triplet IX is almost along the out-of-plane direction, while singlet IX only has 69% out-of-plane dipole moment contribution.

Generation of Tunable Terahertz Waves from Tailored Versatile Spintronic Meta-Antenna Arrays.

Broadband spintronic terahertz (THz) radiation can be efficiently generated by spin-to-charge current conversion in a ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic heterostructure. There had been many studies on realizing the enhancement or the modulation of spintronic terahertz waves. However, reported devices so far focus on implementing certain specific modulation methods, either related to the spintronic stacks or related to the metamaterial structures.

Identifying the contributions of root and foliage gaseous/particle uptakes to indoor plants for phthalates, OPFRs and PAHs.

Understanding the uptake pathways of organic chemicals in plants can help us use plants as biosentinels for human exposure, and as remediation tools for contaminated sites. Herein, we investigated the relative contributions of root and foliar (gas and particle) uptake pathways to indoor ornamental plants for phthalates (PAEs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We looked at different kinds of indoor ornamental plants via pot and hydroponic control experiments, comparing the levels between their leaves and indoor air gaseous and particle phases, floor dust, and window film.

Layer-Number Engineered Momentum-Indirect Interlayer Excitons with Large Spectral Tunability.

Interlayer excitons (IXs) in type II van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are equipped with an oriented permanent dipole moment and long lifetime and thus would allow promising applications in excitonic and optoelectronic devices. However, based on the widely studied heterostructures of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), IX emission is greatly influenced by the lattice mismatch and geometric misalignment between the constituent layers, increasing the complexity of the device fabrication. Here, we report on the robust momentum-indirect IX emission in TMD/two-dimensional (2D) perovskite vdW heterostructures, which were fabricated without considering the orientation arrangement or momentum mismatch.

Light-Controlled Reconfigurable Optical Synapse Based on Carbon Nanotubes/2D Perovskite Heterostructure for Image Recognition.

Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskite material is characterized by a mixed conducting behavior that possesses both electronic and ionic conductivity. The study on the influence of the light on ion migration in the 2D perovskite is helpful to improve the performance of perovskite-based optoelectronic devices. Here, we constructed an exfoliated 2D perovskite/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) heterostructure optical synapse, in which CNTs can be used as nanoprobes to qualitatively observe the ion aggregation or dissipation process in 2D perovskite, and found that light significantly changes the memory curve of the reconfigurable optical synapses.

Nonvolatile electrical switching of optical and valleytronic properties of interlayer excitons.

Long-lived interlayer excitons (IXs) in van der Waals heterostructures (HSs) stacked by monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) carry valley-polarized information and thus could find promising applications in valleytronic devices. Current manipulation approaches for valley polarization of IXs are mainly limited in electrical field/doping, magnetic field or twist-angle engineering. Here, we demonstrate an electrochemical-doping method, which is efficient, in-situ and nonvolatile.

Self-Powered Filterless On-Chip Full-Stokes Polarimeter.

The detection of polarization states of light is essential in photonic and optoelectronic devices. Currently, the polarimeters are usually constructed with the help of waveplates or a comprehensive metasurface, which will inevitably increase the fabrication complexity and unnecessary energy loss. Here, we have successfully demonstrated a self-powered filterless on-chip full-Stokes polarimeter based on a single-layer MoS/few-layer MoS homojunction.

Thermally Assisted Rashba Splitting and Circular Photogalvanic Effect in Aqueously Synthesized 2D Dion-Jacobson Perovskite Crystals.

Recently, a two-dimensional Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskite (AMP)PbI (AMP = 4-(aminomethyl)piperidinium) is emerging with remarkable Rashba effect and ferroelectricity. However, the origin of the giant Rashba splitting remains elusive and the current synthetic strategy via slow cooling is time- and power-consuming, hindering its future applications. Here, we report on an economical aqueous method to obtain (AMP)PbI crystals and clarify the origin of the giant Rashba effect by temperature- and polarization-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy.

Exciton-Phonon Interaction-Induced Large In-Plane Optical Anisotropy in Two-Dimensional All-Inorganic Perovskite Crystals.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites are an emerging class of layered materials with unique optoelectronic properties. To date, most 2D perovskites with Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phase reported are organic- inorganic hybrid perovskites with long organic spacers. Here, we report a high-quality all-inorganic 2D perovskite, CsPbICl, synthesized by an aqueous method.

Multistate Memory Enabled by Interface Engineering Based on Multilayer Tungsten Diselenide.

The diversification of data types and the explosive increase of data size in the information era continuously required to miniaturize the memory devices with high data storage capability. Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising candidates for flexible and transparent electronic and optoelectronic devices with high integration density. Multistate memory devices based on TMDs could possess high data storage capability with a large integration density and thus exhibit great potential applications in the field of data storage.

Manipulation of Valley Pseudospin by Selective Spin Injection in Chiral Two-Dimensional Perovskite/Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Heterostructures.

Monolayer two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted great interest in spintronics and valleytronics due to the spin-valley locking effect. To efficiently control and manipulate the valley pseudospin is of paramount importance for valley-based electronics and optoelectronics. A variety of strategies have been developed to address the valley pseudospin including optical, electrical, and magnetic methods; nonetheless, they involve either below liquid-nitrogen temperature or an external magnetic field, which increases the cost and complexity of the devices.

Self-trapped excitons in two-dimensional perovskites.

With strong electron-phonon coupling, the self-trapped excitons are usually formed in materials, which leads to the local lattice distortion and localized excitons. The self-trapping strongly depends on the dimensionality of the materials. In the three-dimensional case, there is a potential barrier for self-trapping, whereas no such barrier is present for quasi-one-dimensional systems.

Robust Interlayer Coupling in Two-Dimensional Perovskite/Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Heterostructures.

Interlayer excitons have been extensively studied in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) heterobilayers mainly due to the long lifetime, which is beneficial for a wide range of optoelectronic applications. To date, the majority of investigations of interlayer excitons in TMD heterobilayers have been focusing on the geometric arrangement of structures, spin-valley lifetime, and interlayer valley excitons with interlayer hopping rules. Nevertheless, interlayer excitons in TMD heterobilayers strongly depend on the local atomic registry and coupling strength, which increase the complexity of the device fabrication.

Reversible luminescent humidity chromism of organic-inorganic hybrid PEAMnBr single crystals.

Organic-inorganic hybrids have drawn great attention for gas sensors due to their high sensitivity, good selectivity and acceptable stability at room temperature. There are two main approaches by which organic-inorganic hybrids convert gas information to electric or optical signals (vapochromism). Here, we have reported a new organic-inorganic hybrid PEAMnBr for humidity detection by luminescent visible chromism.

Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Chiral Tetranuclear Copper(I) Iodide Clusters.

Circularly polarized luminescent (CPL) materials are promising in applications such as 3D displays and quantum communication. Hybrid organic-inorganic copper(I) iodides have been rapidly developed due to their intense photoluminescence and structural diversity; nevertheless, the reported Cu-I clusters rarely show CPL activities. In this study, we introduced chiral organic molecules /-methylbenzylammonium (/-MBA) into Cu-I inorganic skeletons to achieve chiral tetranuclear (/-MBA)CuI clusters with intense orange luminescence and CPL activity at room temperature.

Anisotropy of Excitons in Two-Dimensional Perovskite Crystals.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites show great potential for optoelectronic applications due to their bandgap tunability, extremely large excition binding energy, and large crystal anisotropy compared with their three-dimensional counterparts. To fully explore exciton-based applications and improve their performance, it is essential to understand the exciton behavior in 2D perovskites. Here, we investigate exciton anisotropy within the crystallographic plane and cross plane of (CHNH)PbI 2D perovskite crystals by polarization-resolved photoluminescence, reflection, and photoconductivity studies.

Light-Enhanced Ion Migration in Two-Dimensional Perovskite Single Crystals Revealed in Carbon Nanotubes/Two-Dimensional Perovskite Heterostructure and Its Photomemory Application.

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid perovskite sandwiched between two long-chain organic layers is an emerging class of low-cost semiconductor materials with unique optical properties and improved moisture stability. Unlike conventional semiconductors, ion migration in perovskite is a unique phenomenon possibly responsible for long carrier lifetime, current-voltage hysteresis, and low-frequency giant dielectric response. While there are many studies of ion migration in bulk hybrid perovskite, not much is known for its 2D counterparts, especially for ion migration induced by light excitation.

InGaN/GaN Distributed Feedback Laser Diodes with Surface Gratings and Sidewall Gratings.

A variety of potential applications such as visible light communications require laser sources with a narrow linewidth and a single wavelength emission in the blue light region. The gallium nitride (GaN)-based distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) is a promising light source that meets these requirements. Here, we present GaN DFB-LDs that share growth and fabrication processes and have surface gratings and sidewall gratings on the same epitaxial substrate, which makes LDs with different structures comparable.

Improved Output Power of GaN-based VCSEL with Band-Engineered Electron Blocking Layer.

The vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) has unique advantages over the conventional edge-emitting laser and has recently attracted a lot of attention. However, the output power of GaN-based VCSEL is still low due to the large electron leakage caused by the built-in polarization at the heterointerface within the device. In this paper, in order to improve the output power, a new structure of p-type composition-graded AlGaN electron blocking layer (EBL) is proposed in the VCSEL, by replacing the last quantum barrier (LQB) and EBL in the conventional structure.

Charge-Accumulation Effect in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Heterobilayers.

Charge transfer in transition-metal-dichalcogenides (TMDs) heterostructures is a prerequisite for the formation of interlayer excitons, which hold great promise for optoelectronics and valleytronics. Charge accumulation accompanied by a charge-transfer process can introduce considerable effect on interlayer exciton-based applications; nevertheless, this aspect has been rarely studied up to date. This work demonstrates how the charge accumulation affects the light emission of interlayer excitons in van der Waals heterobilayers (HBs) consisting of monolayer WSe and WS .

Narrow Linewidth Distributed Bragg Reflectors Based on InGaN/GaN Laser.

A variety of emerging technologies, such as visible light communication systems, require narrow linewidths and easy-to-integrate light sources. Such a requirement could be potentially fulfilled with the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers, which are also promising for the monolithical integration with other optical components. The InGaN/GaN-based surface etched DBR is designed and optimized using the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method to obtain very narrow-band reflectors that can serve as a wavelength filter.

Temperature-Dependent Band Gap in Two-Dimensional Perovskites: Thermal Expansion Interaction and Electron-Phonon Interaction.

Two-dimensional organic-inorganic perovskites have attracted considerable interest recently. Here, we present a systematic study of the temperature-dependent photoluminescence on phase pure (n-BA)(MA) Pb I ( n = 1-5) and (iso-BA)(MA) Pb I ( n = 1-3) microplates obtained by mechanical exfoliation. The photoluminescence peak position gradually changes from a red-shift for n = 1 to a blue-shift for n = 5 with an increase in temperature in the (n-BA)(MA) Pb I ( n = 1-5) series, while only a monotonous blue-shift has been observed for the (iso-BA)(MA) Pb I ( n = 1-3) series, which can be attributed to the competition between the thermal expansion interaction and electron-phonon interaction.

Controllable Growth of Centimeter-Sized 2D Perovskite Heterostructures for Highly Narrow Dual-Band Photodetectors.

Heterostructures consisting of 2D layered perovskites are expected to exhibit interesting physical phenomena inaccessible to the single 2D perovskites and can greatly extend their functionalities for electronic and optoelectronic applications. Herein, we develop a solution method to synthesize (CHNH)PbI/(CHNH)(CHNH)PbI heterostructures with centimeter size, high phase purity, controllable thickness and junction depth, high crystalline quality, and great stability for highly narrow dual-band photodetectors. On the basis of the different lattice constant, solubility, and growth rate between (CHNH)PbI and (CHNH)(CHNH)PbI, the designed synthetic method allows to first grow the (CHNH)PbI at the water-air interface and subsequently the (CHNH)(CHNH)PbI layer is formed via a diffusion process.

The Role of Chloride Incorporation in Lead-Free 2D Perovskite (BA)SnI: Morphology, Photoluminescence, Phase Transition, and Charge Transport.

The incorporation of chloride (Cl) into methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI) perovskites has attracted much attention because of the significantly improved performance of the MAPbI-based optoelectronic devices with a negligible small amount of Cl incorporation. It is expected that the Cl incorporation in 2D perovskites with layered nature would be much more efficient and thus can greatly alter the morphology, optical properties, phase transition, and charge transport; however, studies on those aspects in 2D perovskites remain elusive up to date. Here, a one-pot solution method to synthesize the Cl-doped lead-free 2D perovskite (BA)SnI with various Cl incorporation concentrations is reported and how the Cl incorporation affects the morphology change, photoluminescence, phase transition, and charge transport is investigated.