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Two-dimensional van Der Waals hybrids for solar energy conversion and nanophotonics

Two-dimensional van Der Waals hybrids for solar energy conversion and nanophotonics

Singh Center for Nanotechnology – Room 313 – 11:00 am

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mircea Cotlet

Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York

Two-dimensional van Der Waals (2D-vDW) semiconductors are emerging nanomaterials with thickness-dependent optoelectronic properties, including energy bandgap, capable to process strong light-matter interactions. For example, monolayer MoS2 absorbs about 10% of incoming light, exhibits thickness dependent bandgap with bandgap inversion at monolayer, leading to strong photoluminescence. 2D-vDW have been demonstrated in thermal imaging, telecom, photovoltaic, light emitting diode and photodetector applications.

Our group has developed in the past few years novel hybrids based on 2D-vDW semiconductors where atomically thin 2D materials like MoS2, MoSe2 and graphene are combined with polymers, quantum dots and even biological motifs to obtain new or improved functionality for applications like light harvesting, solar photovoltaics and nanophotonics. I will present examples of how interface engineering in such heterostructures can be utilized to promote desired functionality or improved optoelectronic behavior.

Bio

Mircea Cotlet is a Materials Scientist and Principal Investigator in the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory where he manages the Advanced Optical Facility as part of the science user program. His group researches optoelectronic behavior of low dimensional semiconductors including quantum dots, 2D van Der Waals materials and interface phenomena in hybrids based on such materials