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Wang H, Qian X. Ferroicity-driven nonlinear photocurrent switching in time-reversal invariant ferroic materials. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav9743. [PMID: 31453323 PMCID: PMC6697433 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav9743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Nonlinear optical responses to external electromagnetic field, characterized by second- and higher-order susceptibilities, play crucial roles in nonlinear optics and optoelectronics. Here, we demonstrate the possibility to achieve ferroicity-driven nonlinear photocurrent switching in time-reversal invariant multiferroics. It is enabled by the second-order current response to electromagnetic field whose direction can be controlled by both internal ferroic orders and external light polarization. Second-order direct photocurrent consists of shift current and circular photocurrent under linearly and circularly polarized light irradiation, respectively. We elucidate the microscopic mechanism in a representative class of two-dimensional multiferroic materials using group theoretical analyses and first-principles theory. The complex interplay of symmetries, shift vector, and Berry curvature governs the fundamental properties and switching behavior of shift current and circular photocurrent. Ferroicity-driven nonlinear photocurrent switching will open avenues for realizing nonlinear optoelectronics, nonlinear multiferroics, etc., using the coupled ferroic orders and nonlinear responses of ferroic materials under external field.
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52
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Zhang YJ, Ideue T, Onga M, Qin F, Suzuki R, Zak A, Tenne R, Smet JH, Iwasa Y. Enhanced intrinsic photovoltaic effect in tungsten disulfide nanotubes. Nature 2019; 570:349-353. [PMID: 31217597 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1303-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The photovoltaic effect in traditional p-n junctions-where a p-type material (with an excess of holes) abuts an n-type material (with an excess of electrons)-involves the light-induced creation of electron-hole pairs and their subsequent separation, generating a current. This photovoltaic effect is particularly important for environmentally benign energy harvesting, and its efficiency has been increased dramatically, almost reaching the theoretical limit1. Further progress is anticipated by making use of the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE)2, which does not require a junction and occurs only in crystals with broken inversion symmetry3. However, the practical implementation of the BPVE is hampered by its low efficiency in existing materials4-10. Semiconductors with reduced dimensionality2 or a smaller bandgap4,5 have been suggested to be more efficient. Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are exemplary small-bandgap, two-dimensional semiconductors11,12 in which various effects have been observed by breaking the inversion symmetry inherent in their bulk crystals13-15, but the BPVE has not been investigated. Here we report the discovery of the BPVE in devices based on tungsten disulfide, a member of the TMD family. We find that systematically reducing the crystal symmetry beyond mere broken inversion symmetry-moving from a two-dimensional monolayer to a nanotube with polar properties-greatly enhances the BPVE. The photocurrent density thus generated is orders of magnitude larger than that of other BPVE materials. Our findings highlight not only the potential of TMD-based nanomaterials, but also more generally the importance of crystal symmetry reduction in enhancing the efficiency of converting solar to electric power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y J Zhang
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. .,Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - T Ideue
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - M Onga
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - F Qin
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - R Suzuki
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - A Zak
- Faculty of Sciences, HIT-Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel
| | - R Tenne
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - J H Smet
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Y Iwasa
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako, Japan
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53
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Tan LZ, Rappe AM. Effect of wavefunction delocalization on shift current generation. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2019; 31:084002. [PMID: 30530948 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aaf74b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We derive upper bounds on the magnitude of shift photocurrent generation of materials in two limiting cases: the flat-band limit of almost-isolated systems such as molecular crystals, and the wide-band limit of one-dimensional or quasi-one-dimensional materials such as ferroelectric polymers or other materials with chain-like motifs. These bounds relate the magnitudes of the shift current bulk photovoltaic effect to materials parameters. In both cases, we find that ratio of electron hopping amplitudes to the band gap plays a vital role in maximizing the amount of nonlinear response. Furthermore, by using the Wannier function formalism, we quantify the effect of long-range hopping amplitudes, showing how delocalization of electronic states gives rise to larger photocurrents. These results inform the design and selection of new materials for large shift current generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Z Tan
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of America
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54
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Kushnir K, Qin Y, Shen Y, Li G, Fregoso BM, Tongay S, Titova LV. Ultrafast Zero-Bias Surface Photocurrent in Germanium Selenide: Promise for Terahertz Devices and Photovoltaics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:5492-5498. [PMID: 30620173 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b17225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Theory predicts that a large spontaneous electric polarization and concomitant inversion symmetry breaking in GeSe monolayers result in a strong shift current in response to their excitation in the visible range. Shift current is a coherent displacement of electron density on the order of a lattice constant upon above-bandgap photoexcitation. A second-order nonlinear effect, it is forbidden by the inversion symmetry in the bulk GeSe crystals. Here, we use terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy to demonstrate that ultrafast photoexcitation with wavelengths straddling both edges of the visible spectrum, 400 and 800 nm, launches a shift current in the surface layer of a bulk GeSe crystal, where the inversion symmetry is broken. The direction of the surface shift current determined from the observed polarity of the emitted THz pulses depends only on the orientation of the sample and not on the linear polarization direction of the excitation. Strong absorption by the low-frequency infrared-active phonons in the bulk of GeSe limits the bandwidth and the amplitude of the emitted THz pulses. We predict that reducing GeSe thickness to a monolayer or a few layers will result in a highly efficient broadband THz emission. Experimental demonstration of THz emission by the surface shift current in bulk GeSe crystals puts this 2D material forward as a candidate for next-generation shift current photovoltaics, nonlinear photonic devices, and THz sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Kushnir
- Department of Physics , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Worcester , Massachusetts 01609 , United States
| | - Ying Qin
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy , Arizona State University , Tempe , Arizona 85287 , United States
| | - Yuxia Shen
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy , Arizona State University , Tempe , Arizona 85287 , United States
| | - Guangjiang Li
- Department of Physics , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Worcester , Massachusetts 01609 , United States
| | - Benjamin M Fregoso
- Department of Physics , Kent State University , Kent , Ohio 44242 , United States
| | - Sefaattin Tongay
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy , Arizona State University , Tempe , Arizona 85287 , United States
| | - Lyubov V Titova
- Department of Physics , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Worcester , Massachusetts 01609 , United States
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55
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Hu T, Kan E. Progress and prospects in low‐dimensional multiferroic materials. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Hu
- Department of Applied Physics and Institution of Energy and Microstructure Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing People's Republic of China
| | - Erjun Kan
- Department of Applied Physics and Institution of Energy and Microstructure Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing People's Republic of China
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56
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Burger AM, Agarwal R, Aprelev A, Schruba E, Gutierrez-Perez A, Fridkin VM, Spanier JE. Direct observation of shift and ballistic photovoltaic currents. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaau5588. [PMID: 30746451 PMCID: PMC6357740 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau5588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The quantum phenomenon of shift photovoltaic current was predicted decades ago, but this effect was never observed directly because shift and ballistic currents coexist. The atomic-scale relaxation time of shift, along with the absence of a photo-Hall behavior, has made decisive measurement of shift elusive. Here, we report a facile, direct-current, steady-state method for unambiguous determination of shift by means of the simultaneous measurements of linear and circular bulk photovoltaic currents under magnetic field, in a sillenite piezoelectric crystal. Comparison with theoretical predictions permits estimation of the signature length scale for shift. Remarkably, shift and ballistic photovoltaic currents under monochromatic illumination simultaneously flow in opposite directions. Disentangling the shift and ballistic contributions opens the way for quantitative, fundamental insight into and practical understanding of these radically different photovoltaic current mechanisms and their relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Burger
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Radhe Agarwal
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexey Aprelev
- Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward Schruba
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Vladimir M. Fridkin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect 59, Moscow, 117333, Russian Federation
| | - Jonathan E. Spanier
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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57
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Morimoto T, Nakamura M, Kawasaki M, Nagaosa N. Current-Voltage Characteristic and Shot Noise of Shift Current Photovoltaics. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 121:267401. [PMID: 30636165 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.121.267401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We theoretically study the current-voltage relation, the I-V characteristic, of the photovoltaics due to the shift current, i.e., the photocurrent generated without the external dc electric field in noncentrosymmetric crystals through the Berry connection of the Bloch wave functions. We find that the I-V characteristic and shot noise are controlled by the difference of group velocities between conduction and valence bands, i.e., v_{11}-v_{22}, and the relaxation time τ. Since the shift current itself is independent of these quantities, there are a wide variety of possibilities to design it to maximize the energy conversion rate and also to suppress the noise. We propose that the Landau levels in noncentrosymmetric two-dimensional systems are a promising candidate for energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Morimoto
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Masao Nakamura
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Masashi Kawasaki
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Naoto Nagaosa
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Applied Physics and Quantum-Phase Electronics Center, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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58
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Barraza-Lopez S, Kaloni TP. Water Splits To Degrade Two-Dimensional Group-IV Monochalcogenides in Nanoseconds. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2018; 4:1436-1446. [PMID: 30410982 PMCID: PMC6202654 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.8b00589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The experimental exfoliation of layered group-IV monochalcogenides-semiconductors isostructural to black phosphorus-using processes similar to those followed in the production of graphene or phosphorene has turned out unsuccessful thus far, as if the chemical degradation observed in black phosphorus was aggravated in these monochalcogenides. Here, we document a facile dissociation of water by these materials within 10 ns from room-temperature Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics calculations under standard temperature and pressure conditions. These results suggest that humidity must be fully eradicated to exfoliate monolayers successfully, for instance, by placing samples in a hydrophobic solution during mechanical exfoliation. From another materials perspective, these two-dimensional materials that create individual hydrogen ions out of water without illumination may become relevant for applications in hydrogen production and storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Barraza-Lopez
- Department of Physics and Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- E-mail:
| | - Thaneshwor P. Kaloni
- Department of Physics and Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
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59
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Gong SJ, Zheng F, Rappe AM. Phonon Influence on Bulk Photovoltaic Effect in the Ferroelectric Semiconductor GeTe. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 121:017402. [PMID: 30028160 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.121.017402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The shift current (SHC) has been accepted as the primary mechanism of the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) in ferroelectrics, which is much different from the typical p-n junction-based photovoltaic mechanism in heterogeneous materials. In the present work, we use first-principles calculations to investigate the SHC response in the ferroelectric semiconductor GeTe, which is found possess a large SHC response due to its intrinsic narrow band gap and high covalency. We explore the changes of SHC response induced by phonon vibrations, and analytically fit current versus vibrational amplitude to reveal the quantitative relationships between vibrations and the SHC response. Furthermore, we demonstrate the temperature dependence of the SHC response by averaging the phonon vibration influence in the Brillouin zone. Our investigation provides an explicit experimental prediction about the temperature dependence of BPVE and can be extended to other classes of noncentrosymmetric materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Jing Gong
- Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Department of Electronic Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Fan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, USA
| | - Andrew M Rappe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, USA
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60
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Liu J, Pantelides ST. Mechanisms of Pyroelectricity in Three- and Two-Dimensional Materials. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 120:207602. [PMID: 29864359 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.207602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Pyroelectricity is a very promising phenomenon in three- and two-dimensional materials, but first-principles calculations have not so far been used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Here we report density-functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the Born-Szigeti theory of pyroelectricity, by combining fundamental thermodynamics and the modern theory of polarization. We find satisfactory agreement with experimental data in the case of bulk benchmark materials, showing that the so-called electron-phonon renormalization, whose contribution has been traditionally viewed as negligible, is important. We predict out-of-plane pyroelectricity in the recently synthesized Janus MoSSe monolayer and in-plane pyroelectricity in the group-IV monochalcogenide GeS monolayer. It is notable that the so-called secondary pyroelectricity is found to be dominant in GeS monolayer. The present work opens a theoretical route to study the pyroelectric effect using DFT and provides a valuable tool in the search for new candidates for pyroelectric applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA
| | - Sokrates T Pantelides
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenessee 37235, USA
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61
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Kumar M, Patel M, Kim J, Lim D. Enhanced broadband photoresponse of a self-powered photodetector based on vertically grown SnS layers via the pyro-phototronic effect. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:19201-19208. [PMID: 29186225 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr07120e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Here, we demonstrate the broadband photoresponse from ultraviolet (365 nm) to near-infrared (850 nm) wavelengths from a photodetector based on vertically grown SnS layers. Particularly, the photoinduced current density of the device increased from 100 to 470 μA cm-2 with a wavelength of 760 nm and an intensity of 7 mW cm-2 by utilizing the pyro-phototronic potential. In addition, the photodetector demonstrated ultrafast response rates of ∼12 μs for the rise and ∼55 μs for the decay times over the studied range. Moreover, a good photoresponsivity of 13 mA W-1 and a high photodetectivity of 3 × 1014 Jones at a wavelength of 760 nm with an intensity of 7 mW cm-2 were measured, representing enhancements of 340% and 3960%, respectively, with the pyroelectric potential. This excellent broadband performance was attributed to the photon-induced pyroelectric effect in the vertically grown SnS layers, which also modulated the optoelectronic processes. This novel approach will open a new avenue to design a broadband ultrafast device for advanced optoelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy Rd. Yeonsu, Incheon, 406772, Republic of Korea.
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62
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Raj Panday S, Fregoso BM. Strong second harmonic generation in two-dimensional ferroelectric IV-monochalcogenides. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2017; 29:43LT01. [PMID: 28895875 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aa8bfc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The two-dimensional ferroelectrics GeS, GeSe, SnS and SnSe are expected to have large spontaneous in-plane electric polarization and enhanced shift-current response. Using density functional methods, we show that these materials also exhibit the largest effective second harmonic generation reported so far. It can reach magnitudes up to [Formula: see text] which is about an order of magnitude larger than that of prototypical GaAs. To rationalize this result we model the optical response with a simple one-dimensional two-band model along the spontaneous polarization direction. Within this model the second-harmonic generation tensor is proportional to the shift-current response tensor. The large shift current and second harmonic responses of GeS, GeSe, SnS and SnSe make them promising non-linear materials for optoelectronic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Raj Panday
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, United States of America
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