Warwick-led research optimises electronic heterostructures

Two-dimensional materials are flat, atomically thin, highly conductive, and extremely strong. When stacked together they form heterostructures that can be used to create highly efficient optoelectronic devices with ultrafast electrical charges, which in turn can be used in nanocircuits. They are also stronger than materials used in traditional circuits.

Now, Warwick University’s Dr Neil Wilson has developed the technique to measure the electronic structures of these stacks for the first time.

To date, heterostructures have been created using different 2D materials, and stacking different combinations of 2D materials creates new materials with new properties.

Dr Wilson’s technique measures the electronic properties of each layer in a stack, allowing researchers to establish the optimal structure for the fastest, most efficient transfer of electrical energy.

The technique is said to use the photoelectric effect to directly measure the momentum of electrons within each layer and shows how this changes when the layers are combined.

According to the University, the ability to understand and quantify how 2D material heterostructures work - and to create optimal semiconductor structures - paves the way for the development of highly efficient nanocircuitry, and smaller, flexible, more wearable gadgets.