32 research outputs found
Simulations and Generalized Model of the Effect of Filler Size Dispersity on Electrical Percolation in Rod Networks
We present a three-dimensional simulation of electrical conductivity in isotropic, polydisperse rod networks from which we determine the percolation threshold (Ï•c). Existing analytical models that account for size dispersity are formulated in the slender-rod limit and are less accurate for predicting Ï•c in composites with rods of modest L/D. Using empirical approximations from our simulation data, we generalized the excluded volume percolation model to account for both finite L/D and size dispersity, providing a solution for Ï•c of polydisperse rod networks that is quantitatively accurate across the entire L/D range
High Photovoltaic Quantum Efficiency in Ultrathin van der Waals Heterostructures
We report experimental measurements for ultrathin (< 15 nm) van der Waals
heterostructures exhibiting external quantum efficiencies exceeding 50%, and
show that these structures can achieve experimental absorbance > 90%. By
coupling electromagnetic simulations and experimental measurements, we show
that pn WSe2/MoS2 heterojunctions with vertical carrier collection can have
internal photocarrier collection efficiencies exceeding 70%.Comment: ACS Nano, 2017. Manuscript (25 pages, 7 figures) plus supporting
information (7 pages, 4 figures
Electrical Control of Linear Dichroism in Black Phosphorus from the Visible to Mid-Infrared
The incorporation of electrically tunable materials into photonic structures
such as waveguides and metasurfaces enables dynamic control of light
propagation by an applied potential. While many materials have been shown to
exhibit electrically tunable permittivity and dispersion, including transparent
conducting oxides (TCOs) and III-V semiconductors and quantum wells, these
materials are all optically isotropic in the propagation plane. In this work,
we report the first known example of electrically tunable linear dichroism,
observed here in few-layer black phosphorus (BP), which is a promising
candidate for multi-functional, broadband, tunable photonic elements. We
measure active modulation of the linear dichroism from the mid-infrared to
visible frequency range, which is driven by anisotropic quantum-confined Stark
and Burstein-Moss effects, and field-induced forbidden-to-allowed optical
transitions. Moreover, we observe high BP absorption modulation strengths,
approaching unity for certain thicknesses and photon energies
Experimental Demonstration of >230{\deg} Phase Modulation in Gate-Tunable Graphene-Gold Reconfigurable Mid-Infrared Metasurfaces
Metasurfaces offer significant potential to control far-field light
propagation through the engineering of amplitude, polarization, and phase at an
interface. We report here phase modulation of an electronically reconfigurable
metasurface and demonstrate its utility for mid-infrared beam steering. Using a
gate-tunable graphene-gold resonator geometry, we demonstrate highly tunable
reflected phase at multiple wavelengths and show up to 237{\deg} phase
modulation range at an operating wavelength of 8.50 {\mu}m. We observe a smooth
monotonic modulation of phase with applied voltage from 0{\deg} to 206{\deg} at
a wavelength of 8.70 {\mu}m. Based on these experimental data, we demonstrate
with antenna array calculations an average beam steering efficiency of 50% for
reflected light for angles up to 30{\deg}, relative to an ideal metasurface,
confirming the suitability of this geometry for reconfigurable mid-infrared
beam steering devices
Electronic modulation of infrared emissivity in graphene plasmonic resonators
Electronic control of blackbody emission from graphene plasmonic resonators
on a silicon nitride substrate is demonstrated at temperatures up to 250 C. It
is shown that the graphene resonators produce antenna-coupled blackbody
radiation, manifest as narrow spectral emission peaks in the mid-IR. By
continuously varying the nanoresonators carrier density, the frequency and
intensity of these spectral features can be modulated via an electrostatic
gate. We describe these phenomena as plasmonically enhanced radiative emission
originating both from loss channels associated with plasmon decay in the
graphene sheet and from vibrational modes in the SiNx.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure
Electronic Modulation of Near-Field Radiative Transfer in Graphene Field Effect Heterostructures
Manipulating heat flow in a controllable and reversible manner is a topic of fundamental and practical interest. Numerous approaches to perform thermal switching have been reported, but they typically suffer from various limitations, for instance requiring mechanical modulation of a submicron gap spacing or only operating in a narrow temperature window. Here, we report the experimental modulation of radiative heat flow by electronic gating of a graphene field effect heterostructure without any moving elements. We measure a maximum heat flux modulation of 4 ± 3% and an absolute modulation depth of 24 ± 7 mW m^(–2) V^(–1) in samples with vacuum gap distances ranging from 1 to 3 μm. The active area in the samples through which heat is transferred is ∼1 cm^2, indicating the scalable nature of these structures. A clear experimental path exists to realize switching ratios as large as 100%, laying the foundation for electronic control of near-field thermal radiation using 2D materials
Near-Unity Absorption in van der Waals Semiconductors for Ultrathin Optoelectronics
We demonstrate near-unity, broadband absorbing optoelectronic devices using sub-15 nm thick transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) of molybdenum and tungsten as van der Waals semiconductor active layers. Specifically, we report that near-unity light absorption is possible in extremely thin (<15 nm) van der Waals semiconductor structures by coupling to strongly damped optical modes of semiconductor/metal heterostructures. We further fabricate Schottky junction devices using these highly absorbing heterostructures and characterize their optoelectronic performance. Our work addresses one of the key criteria to enable TMDCs as potential candidates to achieve high optoelectronic efficiency
Electronic Modulation of Near-Field Radiative Transfer in Graphene Field Effect Heterostructures
Manipulating heat flow in a controllable and reversible manner is a topic of fundamental and practical interest. Numerous approaches to perform thermal switching have been reported, but they typically suffer from various limitations, for instance requiring mechanical modulation of a submicron gap spacing or only operating in a narrow temperature window. Here, we report the experimental modulation of radiative heat flow by electronic gating of a graphene field effect heterostructure without any moving elements. We measure a maximum heat flux modulation of 4 ± 3% and an absolute modulation depth of 24 ± 7 mW m^(–2) V^(–1) in samples with vacuum gap distances ranging from 1 to 3 μm. The active area in the samples through which heat is transferred is ∼1 cm^2, indicating the scalable nature of these structures. A clear experimental path exists to realize switching ratios as large as 100%, laying the foundation for electronic control of near-field thermal radiation using 2D materials
Anisotropic Quantum Well Electro-Optics in Few-Layer Black Phosphorus
The incorporation of electrically tunable materials into photonic structures such as waveguides and metasurfaces enables dynamic, electrical control of light propagation at the nanoscale. Few-layer black phosphorus is a promising material for these applications due to its in-plane anisotropic, quantum well band structure, with a direct band gap that can be tuned from 0.3 to 2 eV with a number of layers and subbands that manifest as additional optical transitions across a wide range of energies. In this Letter, we report an experimental investigation of three different, anisotropic electro-optic mechanisms that allow electrical control of the complex refractive index in few-layer black phosphorus from the mid-infrared to the visible: Pauli-blocking of intersubband optical transitions (the Burstein–Moss effect); the quantum-confined Stark effect; and the modification of quantum well selection rules by a symmetry-breaking, applied electric field. These effects generate near-unity tuning of the BP oscillator strength for some material thicknesses and photon energies, along a single in-plane crystal axis, transforming absorption from highly anisotropic to nearly isotropic. Lastly, the anisotropy of these electro-optical phenomena results in dynamic control of linear dichroism and birefringence, a promising concept for active control of the complex polarization state of light, or propagation direction of surface waves