The isolation of a growing number of two-dimensional (2D) materials has inspired worldwide efforts to integrate distinct 2D materials into van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. Given that any passivated, dangling-bond-free surface will interact with another through vdW forces, the vdW heterostructure concept can be extended to include the integration of 2D materials with non-2D materials that adhere primarily through non-covalent interactions. We present a succinct and critical survey of emerging mixed-dimensional (2D + nD, where n is 0, 1 or 3) heterostructure devices. By comparing and contrasting with all-2D vdW heterostructures as well as with competing conventional technologies, we highlight the challenges and opportunities for mixed-dimensional vdW heterostructures.

Mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures

The ultrafast relaxation and recombination dynamics of photogenerated electrons and holes in epitaxial graphene are studied using optical-pump Terahertz-probe spectroscopy. The conductivity in graphene at Terahertz frequencies depends on the carrier concentration as well as the carrier distribution in energy. Time-resolved studies of the conductivity can therefore be used to probe the dynamics associated with carrier intraband relaxation and interband recombination. We report the electron-hole recombination times in epitaxial graphene for the first time. Our results show that carrier cooling occurs on sub-picosecond time scales and that interband recombination times are carrier density dependent.

Ultrafast Optical-Pump Terahertz-Probe Spectroscopy of the Carrier Relaxation and Recombination Dynamics in Epitaxial Graphene

Graphene has demonstrated great potential in next-generation electronics due to its unique two-dimensional structure and properties including a zero-gap band structure, high electron mobility, and high electrical and thermal conductivity. The integration of atom-thick graphene into a device always involves its interaction with a supporting substrate by van der Waals forces and other intermolecular forces or even covalent bonding, and this is critical to its real applications. Graphene films on different surfaces are expected to exhibit significant differences in their properties, which lead to changes in their morphology, electronic structure, surface chemistry/physics, and surface/interface states. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the surface/interface properties is of great importance. In this review, we describe the major “graphene-on-surface” structures and examine the roles of their properties and related phenomena in governing the overall performance for specific applications including optoelectronics, surface catalysis, anti-friction and superlubricity, and coatings and composites. Finally, perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of graphene-on-surface systems are discussed.

The physics and chemistry of graphene-on-surfaces

Graphene is coupled with silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) on top of bulk Si to form a hybrid photodetector. Si QDs cause an increase of the built-in potential of the graphene/Si Schottky junction while reducing the optical reflection of the photodetector. Both the electrical and optical contributions of Si QDs enable a superior performance of the photodetector.

Graphene Coupled with Silicon Quantum Dots for High-Performance Bulk-Silicon-Based Schottky-Junction Photodetectors

The isolation of a growing number of two-dimensional (2D) materials has inspired worldwide efforts to integrate distinct 2D materials into van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. Given that any passivated, dangling bond-free surface will interact with another via vdW forces, the vdW heterostructure concept can be extended to include the integration of 2D materials with non-2D materials that adhere primarily through noncovalent interactions. In this review, we present a succinct and critical survey of emerging mixed-dimensional (2D + nD, where n is 0, 1 or 3) heterostructure devices. By comparing and contrasting with all-2D vdW heterostructures as well as with competing conventional technologies, the challenges and opportunities for mixed-dimensional vdW heterostructures are highlighted.

Mixed-Dimensional van der Waals Heterostructures

Graphene/Si quantum dot (QD) heterojunction diodes are reported for the first time The photoresponse, very sensitive to variations in the size of the QDs as well as in the doping concentration of graphene and consistent with the quantum-confinement effect, is remarkably enhanced in the near-ultraviolet range compared to commercially available bulk-Si photodetectors The photoresponse proves to be dominated by the carriertunneling mechanism

Graphene/Si‐Quantum‐Dot Heterojunction Diodes Showing High Photosensitivity Compatible with Quantum Confinement Effect

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are one of the most attractive graphene nanostructures due to their potential optoelectronic device applications, but it is a challenge to accurately control the size and arrangement of GQDs. In this report, we fabricate well-aligned GQDs on a large area by polystyrene (PS)-nanosphere (NS) lithography and study their structural and optical properties. Single-layer graphene grown on a Cu foil by chemical vapour deposition is patterned by reactive ion etching employing aligned PS-NS arrays as an etching mask. The size (d) of the GQDs is controlled from 75 to 23 nm by varying the etching time, as proved by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. This method is well valid for both rigid/flexible target substrates and even for multilayer graphene formed by piling up single layers. The absorption peak of the GQDs is blue-shifted with respect to that of a graphene sheet, and is sequentially shifted to higher energies by reducing d, consistent with the quantum confinement effect (QCE). The Raman D-to-G band intensity ratio shows an almost monotonic increase with decreasing d, resulting from the dominant contribution of the edge states at the periphery of smaller GQDs. The G-band frequency shows a three-step size-dependence: initial increase, interim saturation, and final decrease with decreasing d, thought to be caused by the competition between the QCE and edge-induced strain effect.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0022-3727/49/2/025308/pdf

Structural and optical characteristics of graphene quantum dots size-controlled and well-aligned on a large scale by polystyrene-nanosphere lithography

We studied the optical sensing properties of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by spray pyrolysis. To investigate their optical sensing performance, we incubated peptides on ZnO nanoparticles. The photoluminescence (PL) peak intensity of peptides on the ZnO nanoparticles was higher than that of peptides on the ZnO film or on the glass plate. This observed PL enhancement is attributed to the optical confinement of ZnO nanoparticles. The low-temperature spectra displayed a strong exciton emission peak with multiple sidebands, attributed to the bound exciton and its longitudinal optical phonon sidebands. The strong exciton emission is thought to be the combined effect of optical confinement due to the nanoparticle geometry, reduction of defect emission by thermal annealing, and reduction of non-radiative relaxation at low temperatures.

Optical Sensing Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis.

Various types of MoS2 structures are successfully obtained by using economical and facile sequential synthesis and exfoliation methods. Spherically-shaped lumps of multilayer (ML) MoS2 are prepared by using a conventional hydrothermal method and were subsequently 1st-exfoliated in hydrazine while being kept in autoclave to be unrolled and separated into five-to-six-layer MoS2 pieces of several-hundred nm in size. The MoS2 MLs are 2nd-exfoliated in sodium naphthalenide under an Ar ambient to finally produce bilayer MoS2 crystals of ~100 nm. The sequential exfoliation processes downsize MoS2 laterally and reduce its number of layers. The three types of MoS2 allotropes exhibit particular optical properties corresponding to their structural differences. These results suggest that two-dimensional MoS2 crystals can be prepared by employing only chemical techniques without starting from high-pressure-synthesized bulk MoS2 crystals.

Si Duck Oh

Papers

Graphene/Si‐Quantum‐Dot Heterojunction Diodes Showing High Photosensitivity Compatible with Quantum Confinement Effect

Structural and optical characteristics of graphene quantum dots size-controlled and well-aligned on a large scale by polystyrene-nanosphere lithography

Optical Sensing Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis.

Sequential structural and optical evolution of MoS 2 by chemical synthesis and exfoliation

High-Performance Broadband Self-Powered Photodetector Employing Mos2/Lavo3 Heterojunction Structure