Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are an emerging class of quantum materials providing a rich playground to investigate quantum and nanoscale processes and exploit them in innovative devices. The integration of these materials in scalable electronic, optoelectronic, and photovoltaic devices is still hindered by one or more of the following major limitations: (i) the absence of semiconducting bandgap; (ii) the inherent instability and degradation in ambient air; and (iii) the limited scalability due to the lack of large area synthesis processes. With this perspective, this project will focus on establishing a novel family of monoelemental 2D materials aiming at circumventing these limitations in order to harness quantum confinement properties in scalable devices involving integration processes compatible with the current semiconductor technology. The core strategy here is to establish group V 2D materials: Antimonene (2D antimony) and arsenene (2D arsenic) heterostructures and devices. Unlike the current 2D materials, group V 2D materials are highly stable and exhibit a tunable bandgap in the 0.36 to 2.62 eV range (blue to mid-infrared wavelength) in addition to graphene-like 2D confinement properties. Within the framework of this project, these properties will be thoroughly investigated and exploited to design and implement innovative, cost-effective mid-infrared light emitting devices operating in the 3-5 µm wavelength. To tackle this exciting research, the multidisciplinary team will develop and utilize theoretical approaches and experimental equipment that have never been combined heretofore. This world-class collaborative research has a strong potential to generate new scientific and technological knowledge that will contribute to shape the future of the emerging 2D materials and devices.