Sufei Shi

Photocurrent measurements of supercollision cooling in graphene

A time-dependent study of the effective temperature of carriers in impurity-free graphene now indicates that a disorder-assisted mechanism is responsible for cooling hot electrons. Observation of this so-called supercollision contradicts the idea that electron–phonon interactions dominate cooling.

Plasmon Resonance in Individual Nanogap Electrodes Studied Using Graphene Nanoconstrictions as Photodetectors

We achieve direct electrical readout of the wavelength and polarization dependence of the plasmon resonance in individual gold nanogap antennas by positioning a graphene nanoconstriction within the gap as a localized photodetector. The polarization sensitivities can be as large as 99%, while the plasmon-induced photocurrent enhancement is 2-100. The plasmon peak frequency, polarization sensitivity, and photocurrent enhancement all vary between devices, indicating the degree to which the plasmon resonance is sensitive to nanometer-scale irregularities.

Measurement of Discrete Energy-Level Spectra in Individual Chemically Synthesized Gold Nanoparticles

We form single-electron transistors from individual chemically synthesized gold nanoparticles, 5-15 nm in diameter, with monolayers of organic molecules serving as tunnel barriers. These devices allow us to measure the discrete electronic energy levels of individual gold nanoparticles that are, by virtue of chemical synthesis, well-defined in their composition, size and shape. We show that the nanoparticles are nonmagnetic and have spectra in good accord with random-matrix-theory predictions taking into account strong spin-orbit coupling.

Transient Absorption and Photocurrent Microscopy Show That Hot Electron Supercollisions Describe the Rate-Limiting Relaxation Step in Graphene

Using transient absorption (TA) microscopy as a hot electron thermometer, we show that disorder-assisted acoustic-phonon supercollisions (SCs) best describe the rate-limiting relaxation step in graphene over a wide range of lattice temperatures (Tl = 5-300 K), Fermi energies (E(F) = ± 0.35 eV), and optical probe energies (~0.3-1.1 eV). Comparison with simultaneously collected transient photocurrent, an independent hot electron thermometer, confirms that the rate-limiting optical and electrical response in graphene are best described by the SC-heat dissipation rate model, H = A(T(e)(3) - T(l)(3)). Our data further show that the electron cooling rate in substrate-supported graphene is twice as fast as in suspended graphene sheets, consistent with SC model prediction for disorder.

Dynamic Resolution of Photocurrent Generating Pathways by Field Dependent Ultrafast Microscopy

Combining E-field-dependent ultrafast photocurrent and transient absorption microscopy, we develop a novel measurement to extract the rates determining photocurrent efficiency. For WSe2, both techniques yield the same dissociation rate dependence.