Showing papers in "Applied Physics Letters in 2019"

MOCVD homoepitaxy of Si-doped (010) β-Ga2O3 thin films with superior transport properties

Abstract: Record-high electron mobilities were achieved for silicon-doped (010) β-Ga2O3 homoepitaxial films grown via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Key growth parameters were investigated to reduce the background doping and compensation concentration. Controllable n-type Si doping was achieved as low as low-1016 cm−3. Record carrier mobilities of 184 cm2/V s at room temperature and 4984 cm2/V s at low temperature (45 K) were measured for β-Ga2O3 thin films with room-temperature doping concentrations of 2.5 × 1016 and 2.75 × 1016 cm−3, respectively. Analysis of temperature-dependent Hall mobility and carrier concentration data revealed a low compensation concentration of 9.4 × 1014 cm−3. Using the two-donor model, Si on the tetrahedrally coordinated Ga(I) site represented the primary shallow donor state, and the secondary donor state was found to possess an activation energy of 120 meV. The demonstration of high-purity and high-quality β-Ga2O3 thin films with uniform and smooth surface morphology via MOCVD will harness its advantages as an ultrawide-bandgap semiconductor for power electronic and short-wavelength optoelectronic device applications.

A double-beam piezo-magneto-elastic wind energy harvester for improving the galloping-based energy harvesting

Abstract: This study investigates the performance of a double-beam piezo-magneto-elastic wind energy harvester (DBPME-WEH) when exhibiting a galloping-based energy harvesting regime under wind excitation. The DBPME-WEH comprises two piezoelectric beams, each of which supports a prism bluff body embedded with a magnet at the tip. The magnets are oriented to repulse each other to introduce a bistable nonlinearity. Wind tunnel tests were conducted to compare performances of the DBPME-WEH and a double-beam piezoelectric wind energy harvester (DBP-WEH) that does not comprise the magnet-induced nonlinearity. The results reveal that compared to the DBP-WEH, the critical wind speed to activate the galloping vibration of DBPME-WEH can be reduced up to 41.9%. Thus, the results corroborate the significant performance enhancement by the DBPME-WEH. It can also be found that the distance of the two magnets affects the performance and the distance that achieves the weakly bistable nonlinearity is beneficial to energy harvesting in reducing the critical wind speed and improving the output voltage.

Thermoelectrically cooled THz quantum cascade laser operating up to 210 K

Abstract: We present a terahertz quantum cascade laser operating on a thermoelectric cooler up to a record-high temperature of 210.5 K. The active region design is based on only two quantum wells and achieves high temperature operation thanks to a systematic optimization by means of a nonequilibrium Green's function model. Laser spectra were measured with a room temperature detector, making the whole setup cryogenic free. At low temperatures (∼40 K), a maximum output power of 200 mW was measured.

Field-dependent charging phenomenon of HVDC spacers based on dominant charge behaviors

Abstract: Spacers are key components that are used to support high voltage conductors in gas-insulated substations or gas-insulated lines. The analysis of the surface charge patterns on spacers remains a difficult task, which requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical mechanism of the gas-solid interface charging phenomenon. In this letter, we reported a field dependent property of surface charge accumulation patterns on spacers under DC stress. We verified this finding through experiment, and further, we put forward a field-dependent charging model based on dominant charge transport behavior under different electric fields. It was found that the charging characteristics of the spacer are dominated by the Ohmic conduction from the volume below an electric field of 2.5 kV/mm. When the electric field stress is higher than 2.5 kV/mm, the charging property of spacers is dominated by the enhanced gas ionization according to Townsend's law. The correctness of this model was verified by surface charge measurement results in literature studies, and a method for determining the dominant mechanism of charge accumulation under different electric fields was proposed.Spacers are key components that are used to support high voltage conductors in gas-insulated substations or gas-insulated lines. The analysis of the surface charge patterns on spacers remains a difficult task, which requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical mechanism of the gas-solid interface charging phenomenon. In this letter, we reported a field dependent property of surface charge accumulation patterns on spacers under DC stress. We verified this finding through experiment, and further, we put forward a field-dependent charging model based on dominant charge transport behavior under different electric fields. It was found that the charging characteristics of the spacer are dominated by the Ohmic conduction from the volume below an electric field of 2.5 kV/mm. When the electric field stress is higher than 2.5 kV/mm, the charging property of spacers is dominated by the enhanced gas ionization according to Townsend's law. The correctness of this model was verified by surface charge measurem...

Terahertz sensing of 7 nm dielectric film with bound states in the continuum metasurfaces

Abstract: The fingerprint spectral response of several materials with terahertz electromagnetic radiation indicates that terahertz technology is an effective tool for sensing applications. However, sensing few nanometer thin-films of dielectrics with much longer terahertz waves (1 THz = 0.3 mm) is challenging. Here, we demonstrate a quasibound state in the continuum (BIC) resonance for sensing of a nanometer scale thin analyte deposited on a flexible metasurface. The large sensitivity originates from the strong local field confinement of the quasi-BIC Fano resonance state and extremely low absorption loss of a low-index cyclic olefin copolymer substrate. A minimum thickness of 7 nm thin-film of germanium is sensed on the metasurface, which corresponds to a deep subwavelength scale of λ/43 000, where λ is the resonance wavelength. The low-loss, flexible, and large mechanical strength of the quasi-BIC microstructured metamaterial sensor could be an ideal platform for developing ultrasensitive wearable terahertz sensors.

A critical review of recent progress on negative capacitance field-effect transistors

Abstract: The elegant simplicity of the device concept and the urgent need for a new "transistor" at the twilight of Moore's law have inspired many researchers in industry and academia to explore the physics and technology of negative capacitance field effect transistor (NC-FET). Although hundreds of papers have been published, the validity of quasi-static NC and the frequency-reliability limits of NC-FET are still being debated. The concept of NC - if conclusively demonstrated - will have broad impacts on device physics and technology development. Here, the authors provide a critical review of recent progress on NC-FETs research and some starting points for a coherent discussion.

A Rydberg atom-based mixer: Measuring the phase of a radio frequency wave

Abstract: Rydberg atoms have been shown to be very useful in performing absolute measurements of the magnitude of a radio frequency (RF) field using electromagnetically induced transparency. However, there has been less success in using Rydberg atoms for the measurement of the phase of an RF field. Measuring the phase of a RF field is a necessary component for many important applications, including antenna metrology, communications, and radar. We demonstrate a scheme for measuring the phase of an RF field by using Rydberg atoms as a mixer to down-convert an RF field at 20 GHz to an intermediate frequency on the order of kHz. The phase of the intermediate frequency corresponds directly to the phase of the RF field. We use this approach to measure the phase shift on an electromagnetic wave from a horn antenna as the antenna is placed at different distances from the Rydberg atom sensor. The atom-based RF phase measurements allow us to measure the propagation constant of the RF wave to within 0.1% of the theoretical value.

Inverse design of photonic topological state via machine learning

Abstract: The photonics topological state plays an important role in recent optical physics and has led to devices with robust properties. However, the design of optical structures with the target topological states is a challenge for current research. Here, we propose an approach to achieve this goal by exploiting machine learning technologies. In our work, we focus on Zak phases, which are the topological properties of one-dimensional photonics crystals. After learning the principle between the geometrical parameters and the Zak phases, the neural network can obtain the appropriate structures of photonics crystals by applying the objective Zak phase properties. Our work would give more insights into the application of machine learning on the inverse design of the complex material properties and could be extended to other fields, i.e., advanced phononics devices.

Physical reservoir computing based on spin torque oscillator with forced synchronization

Abstract: We investigated physical reservoir computing (RC) using a vortex-type spin torque oscillator (STO) as a resource of nonlinear dynamics, which is essential for processing information in time-series data. Forced synchronization was used to suppress the thermal fluctuation of the oscillation trajectory of the STO. We examined the memory property of the STO dynamics, called short-term memory (STM), by using a virtual node technique. The STM capacity increased about twofold compared with that obtained without forced synchronization. The performance index for the nonlinear transformation of the STO also increased; it was evaluated in a parity-check task. The results prove that the synchronized STO has great potential for physical RC based on nanotechnology.

Low-frequency sound absorption of hybrid absorber based on micro-perforated panel and coiled-up channels

Abstract: We propose a hybrid acoustic metamaterial as a super absorber for a relatively broadband low-frequency sound based on a simple construction with deep-subwavelength thickness (5 cm). The hybrid metamaterial absorber is carefully designed and constructed based on a microperforated panel (MPP) and coiled-up Fabry–Perot channels. It is demonstrated analytically, numerically, and experimentally that over 99% of acoustic absorption could be achieved at a resonance frequency (<500 Hz) with the working wavelength about 30 times larger than its total thickness. It is revealed that the superior absorption is mainly caused by the friction losses of acoustic wave energy in the MPP. The frequency of the absorption peak could be tuned by adjusting the geometry parameters of the MPP and the channel folding numbers. The relative absorption bandwidth could also be tuned flexibly (up to 82%) with a fixed deep-subwavelength thickness (5 cm). The absorber has wide potential applications in noise control engineering due to its deep-subwavelength thickness, relatively broad bandwidth, and easy fabrication.

Performance evaluation of twin piezoelectric wind energy harvesters under mutual interference

Abstract: This study evaluated the performance of twin adjacent galloping-based piezoelectric wind energy harvesters based on mutual interference. The relative position between the twin harvesters is crucial to their energy generation efficiency. A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted to test energy generation of the two harvesters in tandem or staggered arrangements. The optimal relative position, a streamwise center to center spacing of 1.2B (B is the width of the harvester's square prism) and a transverse center to center spacing of 1.0B, was identified. The total output power of the two harvesters placed in the optimal relative position is up to 2.2 times that of two isolated harvesters. The output power is also much larger than that of the harvesters in tandem arrangements that have been widely tested in previous studies. Therefore, it is recommended to position two adjacent harvesters in optimal relative position(s) to deliver an optimal power output.

Dielectric properties and electrocaloric effect of high-entropy (Na0.2Bi0.2Ba0.2Sr0.2Ca0.2)TiO3 ceramic

Abstract: Single-phase homogeneous (Na0.2Bi0.2Ba0.2Sr0.2Ca0.2)TiO3 powder with high configurational entropy was synthesized by using a solid-state method. Calculations of thermodynamic parameters and related experiments indicate that both entropy and enthalpy drive the formation of a stable system. To further research the material's performance, we sintered the powder into a ceramic, which exhibited relaxation behavior because of the disorder of the microscopic composition. In addition, an applied electric field of 145 kV/cm produces a discharge energy density of 1.02 J/cm3. Meanwhile, the adiabatic temperature is 0.63 K at 60 kV/cm. These properties suggest that the electrocaloric effect of the (Na0.2Bi0.2Ba0.2Sr0.2Ca0.2)TiO3 ceramic is attractive for applications such as solid-state refrigeration and energy storage. High-entropy perovskite oxides are also highly tolerant to ions, and their properties can be tailored by tuning their composition, making them attractive for a broad range of applications.

MOCVD epitaxy of β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 thin films on (010) Ga2O3 substrates and N-type doping

Abstract: (010) β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 thin films were grown on (010) β-Ga2O3 substrates via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition with up to 40% Al incorporation by systematic tuning of the Trimethylaluminum (TMAl)/triethylgallium molar flow rate ratio and growth temperature. High crystalline quality with pure β-phase (AlxGa1−x)2O3 was achieved for films with Al composition x < 27%, while a higher Al composition induced phase segregation which was observed via X-ray diffraction spectra. Al incorporation was highly dependent on the growth temperature, chamber pressure, oxygen partial pressure, and TMAl molar flow rate. Atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging demonstrated a high crystalline quality β-(Al0.15Ga0.85)2O3 film with an epitaxial interface. High resolution STEM imaging of (AlxGa1−x)2O3/Ga2O3 superlattice (SL) structures revealed superior crystalline quality for the 23% Al composition. When the Al composition reaches 40%, the SL structure maintained the β-phase, but the interfaces became rough with inhomogeneous Al distribution. N-type doping using Si in β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 films with the Al composition up to 33.4% was demonstrated.

Quantum-enhanced noise radar

Abstract: We propose a protocol for quantum illumination: a quantum-enhanced noise radar. A two-mode squeezed state, which exhibits continuous-variable entanglement between so-called signal and idler beams, is used as input to the radar system. Compared to existing proposals for quantum illumination, our protocol does not require joint measurement of the signal and idler beams. This greatly enhances the practicality of the system by, for instance, eliminating the need for a quantum memory to store the idler. We perform a proof-of-principle experiment in the microwave regime, directly comparing the performance of a two-mode squeezed source to an ideal classical noise source that saturates the classical bound for correlation. We find that, even in the presence of significant added noise and loss, the quantum source outperforms the classical source by as much as an order of magnitude.

Bandgap widening by disorder in rainbow metamaterials

Abstract: Stubbed plates, i.e., thin elastic sheets endowed with pillar-like resonators, display subwavelength, locally resonant bandgaps that are primarily controlled by the intrinsic resonance properties of the pillars. In this work, we experimentally study the bandgap response of a tunable heterogeneous plate endowed with reconfigurable families of pillars. We demonstrate that, under certain circumstances, both the spectrum of resonant frequencies of the pillars and their spatial arrangement influence the filtering characteristics of the system. Specifically, both spatially graded and disordered arrangements result in bandgap widening. Moreover, the spectral range over which attenuation is achieved with random arrangements is on average wider than the one observed with graded configurations.

Measurement of the activation energies of oxygen ion diffusion in yttria stabilized zirconia by flicker noise spectroscopy

Abstract: The low-frequency noise in a nanometer-sized virtual memristor consisting of a contact of a conductive atomic force microscope (CAFM) probe to an yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film deposited on a conductive substrate is investigated. YSZ is a promising material for the memristor application since it is featured by high oxygen ion mobility, and the oxygen vacancy concentration in YSZ can be controlled by varying the molar fraction of the stabilizing yttrium oxide. Due to the low diameter of the CAFM probe contact to the YSZ film (∼10 nm), we are able to measure the electric current flowing through an individual filament both in the low resistive state (LRS) and in the high resistive state (HRS) of the memristor. Probability density functions (Pdfs) and spectra of the CAFM probe current in both LRS and HRS are measured. The noise in the HRS is found to be featured by nearly the same Pdf and spectrum as the inner noise of the experimental setup. In the LRS, a flicker noise 1/fγ with γ ≈ 1.3 is observed in the low-frequency band (up to 8 kHz), which is attributed to the motion (drift/diffusion) of oxygen ions via oxygen vacancies in the filament. Activation energies of oxygen ion motion determined from the flicker noise spectra are distributed in the range of [0.52; 0.68] eV at 300 K. Knowing these values is of key importance for understanding the mechanisms of the resistive switching in YSZ based memristors as well as for the numerical simulations of memristor devices.

Spin torque nano-oscillators based on antiferromagnetic skyrmions

Abstract: Skyrmion-based spin torque nano-oscillators are potential next-generation microwave signal generators. However, ferromagnetic skyrmion-based spin torque nano-oscillators cannot reach high oscillation frequencies. In this work, we propose to use the circular motion of an antiferromagnetic skyrmion to create an oscillation signal in order to overcome this obstacle. Micromagnetic simulations demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic skyrmion-based spin torque nano-oscillators can produce high frequencies (tens of GHz). Furthermore, the speed of the circular motion for an antiferromagnetic skyrmion in a nanodisk is analytically derived, which agrees well with the results of numerical simulations. Our findings are useful for the understanding of the inertial dynamics of an antiferromagnetic skyrmion and the development of future skyrmion-based spin torque nano-oscillators.

Highly effective activation of Mg-implanted p-type GaN by ultra-high-pressure annealing

Abstract: A high activation ratio of acceptors to Mg ions implanted into a homoepitaxial GaN layer was achieved through an ultra-high-pressure annealing (UHPA) process. Capless annealing under a nitrogen pressure of 1 GPa in a temperature range of 1573–1753 K activated acceptors without thermally decomposing the GaN layer. Conventional rapid thermal annealing leads to a serious decomposition at 1573 K, even with an AlN protective cap. The sample annealed at 1673 K under UHPA exhibited very intense cathodoluminescence in near-band edge and donor-acceptor-pair band emissions. The intensities were over one order of magnitude higher than those of the sample treated by conventional annealing. A Hall-effect measurement was obtained in the temperature range of 275–500 K for the UHPA sample. The obtained hole concentration and mobility at 300 K were 3.6 × 1016 cm−3 and 24.1 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively. The mobility value was close to that of an epitaxial p-type GaN with the same doping concentration. An Arrhenius plot of hole concentrations showed that the acceptor concentration and ionization energy were separately estimated to be (2.6 ± 0.8) × 1018 cm−3 and 212 ± 5 meV, respectively. By comparing the Mg concentrations obtained from secondary ion mass spectrometry, the acceptor activation ratio (acceptor concentration/Mg concentration) of the UHPA samples exceeded 70%. These results suggest that the UHPA process as a postimplantation annealing technique is promising for the fabrication of GaN-based power devices with selective area doping.

Single-layer LaBr2: Two-dimensional valleytronic semiconductor with spontaneous spin and valley polarizations

Abstract: The current focus of valleytronics research lies in how to produce valley polarization. Although many schemes have been broadly studied, spontaneous valley polarization is rarely explored. Here, we report the discovery of a two-dimensional material with the long-pursued spontaneous spin and valley polarizations. Using first-principles calculations, we reveal that single-layer LaBr2 is dynamically and thermally stable, which could be exfoliated from its bulk material. Single-layer LaBr2 is found to be a compelling two-dimensional ferromagnetic semiconductor. More interestingly, we show that single-layer LaBr2 harbors the extremely rare intrinsic valley polarization, owing to the coexistence of inversion symmetry and time-reversal symmetry breakings. Its spontaneous valley polarization reaches 33 meV, sizable enough for operating room-temperature valleytronic physics. Our work thus provides a promising material for experimental studies and practical applications of two-dimensional spintronics and valleytronics.

Reservoir computing with the frequency, phase, and amplitude of spin-torque nano-oscillators

Abstract: Spin-torque nano-oscillators can emulate neurons at the nanoscale. Recent works show that the non-linearity of their oscillation amplitude can be leveraged to achieve waveform classification for an input signal encoded in the amplitude of the input voltage. Here, we show that the frequency and phase of the oscillator can also be used to recognize waveforms. For this purpose, we phase-lock the oscillator to the input waveform, which carries information in its modulated frequency. In this way, we considerably decrease the amplitude, phase, and frequency noise. We show that this method allows classifying sine and square waveforms with an accuracy above 99% when decoding the output from the oscillator amplitude, phase, or frequency. We find that recognition rates are directly related to the noise and non-linearity of each variable. These results prove that spin-torque nano-oscillators offer an interesting platform to implement different computing schemes leveraging their rich dynamical features.

Deep neural network method for predicting the mechanical properties of composites

Abstract: Determining the macroscopic mechanical properties of composites with complex microstructures is a key issue in many of their applications. In this Letter, a machine learning-based approach is proposed to predict the effective elastic properties of composites with arbitrary shapes and distributions of inclusions. Using several data sets generated from the finite element method, a convolutional neural network method is developed to predict the effective Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of composites directly from a window of their microstructural image. Through numerical experiments, we demonstrate that the trained network can efficiently provide an accurate mapping between the effective mechanical property and the microstructures of composites with complex structures. This study paves a way for characterizing heterogeneous materials in big data-driven material design.

Brownian motion of skyrmion bubbles and its control by voltage applications

Abstract: Magnetic skyrmions are expected to be promising candidates for information carriers in spintronic devices. In previous work, precise position control of skyrmions has been the main focus of attention for memory and logic applications. Here, with the aim of employing the thermally activated random walk of skyrmion bubbles for logical operations, i.e., token-based Brownian computing, we investigated the dynamics of skyrmion bubbles in W/FeB/Ir/MgO structures. In addition to the observation of Brownian motion of skyrmion bubbles, we demonstrated the electrical control of the diffusion constant by voltage applications. The developed technique would be useful for various kinds of skyrmion-based spintronic devices as well as Brownian computing.

Extreme low-frequency ultrathin acoustic absorbing metasurface

Abstract: We introduce a multicoiled acoustic metasurface providing quasiperfect absorption (reaching 99.99% in experiments) at an extremely low-frequency of 50 Hz, simultaneously featuring an ultrathin thickness down to λ/527 (1.3 cm). In contrast to the state of the art, this original conceived multicoiled metasurface offers additional degrees of freedom capable of tuning the acoustic impedance effectively without increasing the total thickness. We provide analytical derivation, numerical simulation, and experimental demonstrations for this unique absorber concept, and discuss its particular physical mechanism. Furthermore, based on the same conceptual approach, we propose a broadband low-frequency metasurface absorber by coupling unit cells exhibiting different properties.

A music-box-like extended rotational plucking energy harvester with multiple piezoelectric cantilevers

Abstract: Vibrational interference has been found to incur inefficient system responses and suboptimal energy harvesting performance as the rotational frequency increases in the conventional rotational plucking energy harvester. As a result, this letter proposes a music-box-like structure of a rotational plucking energy harvester to overcome the problem by extending the rotary cylinder out of plane. A model is proposed and experimentally validated by characterizing its dynamic and energetic characteristics. Numerical analyses show that the proposed rotational plucking structure can reduce the vibrational interference and be capable of harvesting more energy at high rotational frequencies as well as extending the operating frequency range and broadening the half-power bandwidth.

Nanotesla sensitivity magnetic field sensing using a compact diamond nitrogen-vacancy magnetometer

Abstract: Solid state sensors utilizing diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are a promising sensing platform that can provide high sensitivity and spatial resolution at high precision. Such sensors have been realized in bulky laboratory-based forms; however, practical applications demand a miniaturized, portable sensor that can function in a wide range of environmental conditions. Here, we demonstrate such a diamond NV magnetic field sensor. The sensor head fits inside a 11 × 7 × 7 cm 3 3D-printed box and exhibits sub-10 nT/ Hz sensitivity over a 125 Hz bandwidth. We achieve efficient fluorescence collection using an optical filter and diode in contact with the diamond, which is cut at the Brewster angle to maximize the coupling of 532 nm pump light. We discuss the potential of this flexible approach to achieve sub-nT/ Hz shot noise limited sensitivity suitable for detection of a wide range of low-level magnetic fields, particularly those from electrical power systems and from biological sources.

Experimental observation of a photonic hook

Abstract: In this letter, we reported the experimental observation of a photonic hook (PH)—a type of near-field curved light generated at the output of a dielectric cuboid, featuring a broken symmetry and dimensions comparable to the electromagnetic (EM) wavelength. Given that the specific value of the wavelength is not critical once the mesoscale conditions for the particle are met, we verified these predictions experimentally using a 0.25 THz continuous-wave source. The radius of curvature associated with the PH-generated is smaller than the wavelength, while its minimum beam-waist is about 0.44λ. This represents the smallest radius of curvature ever recorded for any EM beam. The observed phenomenon is of potential interest in optics and photonics, particularly, in super-resolution microscopy, manipulation of particles and liquids, photolithography, and material processing. Finally, it has a universal character and should be inherent to acoustic and surface waves, electrons, neutrons, protons, and other beams interacting with asymmetric mesoscale obstacles.

Investigation of a submerging redox behavior in Fe2O3 solid electrolyte for resistive switching memory

Abstract: A redox reaction submerged by a high current magnitude is impressively observed in a Fe2O3 solid electrolyte-based resistive memory device at room temperature. Oxygen vacancy migration, Ag atom redox, phase-induced grain boundary, and water molecule interplay with the oxygen vacancy are responsible for the submerged redox behaviors. The observation of the submerged redox behavior in the Fe2O3 phase change process gives an insight into the evolution of memristors.

Optical and electrical properties of two-dimensional palladium diselenide

Abstract: © 2019 Author(s). Two-dimensional (2D) noble-metal dichalcogenides exhibit exceptionally strong thickness-dependent bandgaps, which can be leveraged in a wide variety of device applications. A detailed study of their optical (e.g., optical bandgaps) and electrical properties (e.g., mobilities) is important in determining potential future applications of these materials. In this work, we perform detailed optical and electrical characterization of 2D PdSe2 nanoflakes mechanically exfoliated from a single-crystalline source. Layer-dependent bandgap analysis from optical absorption results indicates that this material is an indirect semiconductor with bandgaps of approximately 1.37 and 0.50 eV for the monolayer and bulk, respectively. Spectral photoresponse measurements further confirm these bandgap values. Moreover, temperature-dependent electrical measurements of a 6.8-nm-thick PdSe2 flake-based transistor show effective electron mobilities of 130 and 520 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 300 K and 77 K, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate that PdSe2 can be utilized for short-wave infrared photodetectors. A room-temperature specific detectivity (D) of 1.8 × 1010 cm Hz1/2 W-1 at 1 μm with a band edge at 1.94 μm is achieved on a 6.8-nm-thick PdSe2 flake-based photodetector.

Graphene-assisted quasi-van der Waals epitaxy of AlN film for ultraviolet light emitting diodes on nano-patterned sapphire substrate

Abstract: We report the growth of high-quality AlN films on nano-patterned sapphire substrates (NPSSs) by graphene-assisted quasi-van der Waals epitaxy, which enables rapid coalescence to shorten the growth time. Due to the presence of graphene (Gr), AlN tends to be two-dimensional laterally expanded on the NPSS, leading to the reduction of dislocation density and strain release in the AlN epitaxial layer. Using first-principles calculations, we confirm that Gr can reduce the surface migration barrier and promote the lateral migration of metal Al atoms. Furthermore, the electroluminescence results of deep ultraviolet light emitting diodes (DUV-LEDs) have exhibited greatly enhanced emission located at 280 nm by inserting the Gr interlayer. The present work may provide the potential to solve the bottleneck of high efficiency DUV-LED.

Local crystallographic phase detection and texture mapping in ferroelectric Zr doped HfO 2 films by transmission-EBSD

Abstract: The local crystal phase and orientation of ferroelectric grains inside TiN/Hf0.5Zr0.5O2/TiN have been studied by the analysis of the local electron beam scattering Kikuchi patterns, recorded in transmission. Evidence was found that the ferroelectric phase of the layers is derived from an orthorhombic phase, most likely of space group Pca21. The orientation analysis reveals a strong out-of-plane texture of the polycrystalline film which is in accordance with a high remanent polarization Pr observed for P-V measurements. The results of this analysis help us to further optimize the ratio of ferroelectric grains and their orientation for many applications, e.g., in the field of emerging memory or infrared sensors.