Kyle B. Tom

Fermi level stabilization and band edge energies in CdxZn1−xO alloys

We have measured the band edge energies of CdxZn1−xO thin films as a function of composition by three independent techniques: we determine the Fermi level stabilization energy by pinning the Fermi level with ion irradiation, measure the binding energy of valence band states and core levels by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and probe shifts in the conduction band and valence band density of states using soft X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy, respectively. The three techniques find consensus in explaining the origin of compositional trends in the optical-bandgap narrowing upon Cd incorporation in wurtzite ZnO and widening upon Zn incorporation in rocksalt CdO. The conduction band minimum is found to be stationary for both wurtzite and rocksalt alloys, and a significant upward rise of the valence band maximum accounts for the majority of these observed bandgap changes. Given these band alignments, alloy disorder scattering is found to play a negligible role in decreasing the electron mobility fo...

Dynamic Control of Optical Response in Layered Metal Chalcogenide Nanoplates.

Tunable optical transitions in ultrathin layered 2-dimensional (2D) materials unveil the electronic structures of materials and provide exciting prospects for potential applications in optics and photonics. Here, we present our realization of dynamic optical modulation of layered metal chalcogenide nanoplates using ionic liquid (IL) gating over a wide spectral range. The IL gating significantly increased the tuning range of the Fermi level and, as a result, substantially altered the optical transitions in the nanoplates. Using heavily n-doped Bi2Se3 nanoplates, we substantially modulated the light transmission through the ultrathin layer. A tunable, high-transmission spectral window in the visible to near-infrared region has been observed due to simultaneous shifts of both the plasma edge and absorption edge of the material. On the other hand, optical response of multilayer MoSe2 flakes gated by IL has shown enhanced transmission in both positive and negative biases, which is consistent with their ambipolar electrical behavior. The electrically controlled optical property tuning in metal chalcogenide material systems provides new opportunities for potential applications, such as wide spectral range optical modulators, optical filters, and electrically controlled smart windows with extremely low material consumption.

A Lithography‐Free and Field‐Programmable Photonic Metacanvas

The unique correspondence between mathematical operators and photonic elements in wave optics enables quantitative analysis of light manipulation with individual optical devices. Phase-transition materials are able to provide real-time reconfigurability of these devices, which would create new optical functionalities via (re)compilation of photonic operators, as those achieved in other fields such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA). Here, by exploiting the hysteretic phase transition of vanadium dioxide, an all-solid, rewritable metacanvas on which nearly arbitrary photonic devices can be rapidly and repeatedly written and erased is presented. The writing is performed with a low-power laser and the entire process stays below 90 °C. Using the metacanvas, dynamic manipulation of optical waves is demonstrated for light propagation, polarization, and reconstruction. The metacanvas supports physical (re)compilation of photonic operators akin to that of FPGA, opening up possibilities where photonic elements can be field programmed to deliver complex, system-level functionalities.

Excitation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons on a non-structured surface with a permittivity gradient

Accompanied by the rise of plasmonic materials beyond those based on noble metals and the development of advanced materials processing techniques, it is important to understand the plasmonic behavior of materials with large-scale inhomogeneity (such as gradient permittivity materials) because they cannot be modeled simply as scatterers. In this paper, we theoretically analyze the excitation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on a planar interface between a homogeneous dielectric and a material with a gradient of negative permittivity. We demonstrate the following: (i) free-space propagating waves and surface waves can be coupled by a gradient negative-permittivity material and (ii) the coupling can be enhanced if the material permittivity variation is suitably designed. This theory is then verified by numerical simulations. A direct application of this theory, ‘rainbow trapping’, is also proposed, considering a realistic design based on doped indium antimonide. This theory may lead to various applications, such as ultracompact spectroscopy and dynamically controllable generation of SPPs.

A multifunctional micro-electro-opto-mechanical (MEOM) platform based on phase-transition materials

Along with the rapid development of hybrid electronic-photonic systems, multifunctional devices with dynamic responses have been widely investigated for improving many optoelectronic applications. For years, microelectro-opto-mechanical systems (MEOMS), one of the major approaches to realizing multifunctionality, have demonstrated profound reconfigurability and great reliability. However, modern MEOMS still suffer from limitations in modulation depth, actuation voltage, or miniaturization. Here, we demonstrate a new MEOMS multifunctional platform with greater than 50% optical modulation depth over a broad wavelength range. This platform is realized by a specially designed cantilever array, with each cantilever consisting of vanadium dioxide, chromium, and gold nanolayers. The abrupt structural phase transition of the embedded vanadium dioxide enables the reconfigurability of the platform. Diverse stimuli, such as temperature variation or electric current, can be utilized to control the platform, promising CMOS-compatible operating voltage. Multiple functionalities, including an active enhanced absorber and a reprogrammable electro-optic logic gate, are experimentally demonstrated to address the versatile applications of the MEOMS platform in fields such as communication, energy harvesting, and optical computing.

A 0.2 V Micro-Electromechanical Switch Enabled by a Phase Transition

Micro-electromechanical (MEM) switches, with advantages such as quasi-zero leakage current, emerge as attractive candidates for overcoming the physical limits of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices. To practically integrate MEM switches into CMOS circuits, two major challenges must be addressed: sub 1 V operating voltage to match the voltage levels in current circuit systems and being able to deliver at least millions of operating cycles. However, existing sub 1 V mechanical switches are mostly subject to significant body bias and/or limited lifetimes, thus failing to meet both limitations simultaneously. Here 0.2 V MEM switching devices with ≳106 safe operating cycles in ambient air are reported, which achieve the lowest operating voltage in mechanical switches without body bias reported to date. The ultralow operating voltage is mainly enabled by the abrupt phase transition of nanolayered vanadium dioxide (VO2 ) slightly above room temperature. The phase-transition MEM switches open possibilities for sub 1 V hybrid integrated devices/circuits/systems, as well as ultralow power consumption sensors for Internet of Things applications.

Three-dimensional Architecture Enabled by Strained Two-dimensional Material Heterojunction

Engineering the structure of materials endows them with novel physical properties across a wide range of length scales. With high in-plane stiffness and strength, but low flexural rigidity, two-dimensional (2D) materials are excellent building blocks for nanostructure engineering. They can be easily bent and folded to build three-dimensional (3D) architectures. Taking advantage of the large lattice mismatch between the constituents, we demonstrate a 3D heterogeneous architecture combining a basal Bi2Se3 nanoplate and wavelike Bi2Te3 edges buckling up and down forming periodic ripples. Unlike 2D heterostructures directly grown on substrates, the solution-based synthesis allows the heterostructures to be free from substrate influence during the formation process. The balance between bending and in-plane strain energies gives rise to controllable rippling of the material. Our experimental results show clear evidence that the wavelengths and amplitudes of the ripples are dependent on both the widths and thicknesses of the rippled material, matching well with continuum mechanics analysis. The rippled Bi2Se3/Bi2Te3 heterojunction broadens the horizon for the application of 2D materials heterojunction and the design and fabrication of 3D architectures based on them, which could provide a platform to enable nanoscale structure generation and associated photonic/electronic properties manipulation for optoelectronic and electromechanic applications.

All-Silicon Broadband Ultraviolet Metasurfaces

Featuring high photon energy and short wavelength, ultraviolet (UV) light enables numerous applications such as high-resolution imaging, photolithography, and sensing. In order to manipulate UV light, bulky optics are usually required, and hence do not meet the fast-growing requirements of integration in compact systems. Recently, metasurfaces have shown unprecedented control of light, enabling substantial miniaturization of photonic devices from terahertz to visible regions. However, material challenges have hampered the realization of such functionalities at shorter wavelengths. Herein, it is experimentally demonstrated that all-silicon (Si) metasurfaces with thicknesses of only one-tenth of the working wavelength can be designed and fabricated to manipulate broadband UV light with efficiencies comparable to plasmonic metasurface performance in infrared (IR). Also, for the first time, photolithography enabled by metasurface-generated UV holograms is shown. Such performance enhancement is attributed to increased scattering cross sections of Si antennas in the UV range, which is adequately modeled via a circuit. The new platform introduced here will deepen the understanding of light-matter interactions and introduce even more material options to broadband metaphotonic applications, including those in integrated photonics and holographic lithography technologies.

Solution-Based, Template-Assisted Realization of Large-Scale Graphitic ZnO

With a honeycomb single-atomic-layer structure similar to those of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), the graphitic phase of ZnO (gZnO) have been predicted to offer many advantages for engineering, including high-temperature stability in ambient conditions and great potential in heterostructure applications. However, there is little experimental data about this hexagonal phase due to the difficulty of synthesizing large-area gZnO for characterization and applications. In this work, we demonstrate a solution-based approach to realize gZnO nanoflakes with thicknesses down to a monolayer and sizes up to 20 μm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy, photoluminescence, atomic force microscopy, and electron microscopy characterizations are conducted on synthesized gZnO samples. Measurements show significant changes to the electronic band structure compared to its bulk phase, including an increase of the band gap to 4.8 eV. The gZnO nanosheets also exhibit excellent stability at temperatures as high as 800 °C in ambient environment. This wide band gap layered material provides us with a platform for harsh environment electronic devices, deep ultraviolet optical applications, and a practical alternative for hBN. Our synthesis method may also be applied to achieve other types of 2D oxides.