2D van der Waals materials for optoelectronics

The unique properties of 2D materials have brought many opportunities to optics and optoelectronics that are crucial to the society in communication, green energy, and manufacturing. 2D materials can support collective excitations, i.e. excitons or plasmons, enabling dispersion engineering in broad electromagnetic spectrum range. The dangling-bond free interface allows easier formation of heterostructure and integration of 2D materials onto various substrates. The strong quantum confinement and small dielectric screening render them large exciton binding energy for device to operate at room temperature. The vast 2D family with varied physical and chemical properties offers plenty choices of materials for various applications. In this project, we will investigate 2D materials and their heterostructures for novel optoelectronic applications, including light emission, detection and modulation, especially in the mid & far infrared range that have many important applications such as materials identification, environment monitoring and wireless communication, but are less developed. We would explore interlayer excitons, Moire lattice and nano-linear optics in a broad frequency range from deep UV to far infrared, with the assistance of novel optical structures and effects. It will involve material characterization, optical structure design, nanofabrication and device testing.