2Exciting — Developing optoelectronics in two-dimensional semiconductors

Results in brief

Developing optoelectronics in two-dimensional semiconductors

Since 2010, the field of 2D materials has experienced a new boost, originating from the works on 2D semiconductors (2DS), atomically thin semiconducting 'cousins' of graphene. They cover a wide range of band gaps in the visible, UV and IR. Their properties encompass large exciton binding energies and exceptionally strong light-matter interaction. They opened the door to new ways of controlling their electrical and optical properties via the valley degree of freedom, strain, or by creating artificial stacks of 2D materials. All these makes 2DS extremely appealing for optoelectronic applications where conventional semiconductors cannot provide the same performance nor added functionality. The demand for optical-to-electrical and vice versa transducers has grown exponentially as optics is increasingly adopted for energy-efficient data transmission, also on short distances. Displays and light sensors have been successfully integrated in everyday objects. There is a clear roadmap for achieving broader band width, faster, more sensitive, and brighter devices, and also for devices with new functionalities. 2EXCITING combined complementary expertise to investigate fundamental optoelectronic properties of 2DS and to provide new methods to manipulate them for adding functionalities to 2DS-based optoelectronic devices by: - Bringing together a consortium of 8 leading academic groups that are amongst the key players in the field of 2DS, and 8 companies with diverse skills ranging from knowledge transfer, R&D to soft skills, - Studying fundamental physics of the light-matter interaction in 2DSs, - Developing innovative optoelectronic devices such as excitonic switches, strain-actuated optical modulators, or valleytronic switches, - Developing strategies to artificially tailor the optoelectronic properties of 2DS through electrostatic or chemical doping, strain engineering, and modifying the twisting angle of stacked layers, - Training 15 ESRs in the state-of-the-technique experimental and theoretical tools in the field of 2DS-based electronic and optoelectronic devices and related materials preparation, nanoscopy, and optical spectroscopy, - Preparing the ESRs for their professional career in the growing field of 2D materials through the specialized training programme. The objectives in 2EXCITING to exploit the photophysical and optoelectronic properties of 2DS, and to manipulate their electronic structure by external means were successfully achieved.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Atomically thin, two-dimensional semiconductors (2DS) show exceptionally strong light-matter interaction and opened thedoor to new ways of controlling electrical and optical properties through the valley degree of freedom, strain, or by creatingartificial stacks of 2D materials. Optoelectronics has a clear roadmap towards not only broader band, faster and highersensitivity or brighter devices, but also devices with new functionalities. The fast growth of industrial applications of 2DS inthe imminent future, where Europe is in an excellent starting position, risks being throttled by a lack of highly qualifiedresearchers and developers with specific experience in the field. The 2EXCITING network blends together eight academicgroups that are amongst the key players in the 2DS field and eight companies with very diverse profiles, to train 15 EarlyStage Researchers in an unmatched combination of scientific and complementary skills. Together, they will study thefundamental physics of the light-matter interaction in 2DSs, develop innovative optoelectronic devices such as excitonicswitches, strain-actuated optical modulators, or valleytronic switches, and develop strategies to artificially tailor theoptoelectronic properties of 2DS through electrostatic or chemical doping, strain engineering or the twisting angle of stackedlayers. The network training programme, which comprises three winter schools and three satellite events to the “Flatlandsbeyond Graphene” conference series, provides scientific and industrial training to all researchers of the ETN, with activeparticipation of trainers from the involved non-academic partners, both on specific technology issues and on complementaryskills such as technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and public outreach. All ESRs will spend intersectoral and internationalsecondments (be seconded from academia to industry or vice versa), most of them for six months duration.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDEN · DresdenCoordinatorGermany
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridSpain
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisFrance
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE · LausanneSwitzerland
GESELLSCHAFT FUR ANGEWANDTE MIKRO UND OPTOELEKTRONIK MIT BESCHRANKTERHAFTUNG AMO GMBH · AachenGermany
POLITECHNIKA WROCLAWSKA · WroclawPoland
POLITECNICO DI MILANO · MilanoItaly
SOFTWARE FOR CHEMISTRY & MATERIALS BV · AMSTERDAMNetherlands
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN · DublinIreland
VYSOKA SKOLA CHEMICKO-TECHNOLOGICKA V PRAZE · PRAHACzechia

2Exciting · Developing optoelectronics in two-dimensional semiconductors

Results in brief

Developing optoelectronics in two-dimensional semiconductors

Project objective

Participants

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