Photodetectors Based on Van der Waals Heterostructures and Hybrid 2D Materials

Two-dimensional (2D) materials and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures have shown tremendous potential for light detection applications, opening new avenues in the development of novel, high-performance and broadband photodetectors (PDs) beyond state-of-the-art. The continuously improving quality of 2D materials with naturally passivated surfaces and no dangling bonds, along with the nature of vdW interactions between 2D layers forming a hetero stack allow superior layer-tunable band structure engineering in vdW PDs, overcoming the problems related to lattice-mismatch and interface defects associated with modern compound semiconductors-based PD technologies. A variety of high-performance 2D, hybrid-2D and vdW PDs with ultra-high responsivity, sensitivity and ultra-broad spectral response have been reported so far based on graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), III-VI group layered semiconductors, black phosphorous, and more, covering the visible, infrared and terahertz spectra. Nevertheless, the field is far from reaching its saturation. Quite the opposite, the rich portfolio of 2D materials and newly emerging physical phenomena in vdW heterostructures (e.g. twistronics, topology, strain engineering), together with favorable heterogeneous integration of 2D systems with silicon technology, CMOS read-out electronics and flexible platforms, set new horizons for the development of innovative 2D vdW PDs. The rise and widespread of new 2D PDs technology is expected to pave the way for advanced portable, wearable and smart devices, leading to major innovations in imaging, remote healthcare, disease diagnostics, food quality control, environmental sensing, automotive, and many more domains in our everyday life.

Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

Guest Editors

Frank Koppens, ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences

Jianbin Xu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Fengnian Xia, Yale University

Ilya Goykhman, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology