A van der Waals interface that creates in-plane polarization and a spontaneous photovoltaic effect

Authors
Takatoshi Akamatsu, Toshiya Ideue, Ling Zhou, Yu Dong, Sota Kitamura, Mao Yoshii, Dongyang Yang, Masaru Onga, Yuji Nakagawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Joseph Laurienzo, Junwei Huang, Ziliang Ye, Takahiro Morimoto, Hongtao Yuan, Yoshihiro Iwasa

Abstract

Van der Waals interfaces can be formed by layer stacking without regard to lattice constants or symmetries of individual building blocks. We engineered the symmetry of a van der Waals interface of tungsten selenide and black phosphorus and realized in-plane electronic polarization that led to the emergence of a spontaneous photovoltaic effect. Spontaneous photocurrent was observed along the polar direction and was absent in the direction perpendicular to it. The observed spontaneous photocurrent was explained by a quantum-mechanical shift current that reflects the geometrical and topological electronic nature of this emergent interface. The present results offer a simple guideline for symmetry engineering that is applicable to a variety of van der Waals interfaces.



Science : https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6537/68