Photoluminescence study of the one-dimensional material ZrS3 and its solid solution Zr1-xHfxS3

Axially-Polarized Excitonic Series and Anisotropic van der Waals Stacked Heterojunction in a Quasi-1D Layered Transition-Metal Trichalcogenide

Anisotropic optical 2D materials are crucial for achieving multiple-quanta functions within quantum materials, which enables the fabrication of axially polarized electronic and optoelectronic devices. In this work, multiple excitonic emissions owning polarization-sensitive orientations are clearly detected in a multilayered quasi-1D ZrS3 nanoribbon with respect to the nanostripe edge. Four excitons denoted as AS1, AS2, AS, and A2 with E ⊥ b polarized direction and one prominent A1 exciton with E || b polarized emission are simultaneously detected in the polarized micro-photoluminescence (µPL) measurement of 1.9-2.2 eV at 10 K. In contrast to light emission, polarized micro-thermoreflectance (µTR) measurements are performed to identify the polarization dependence and verify the excitons in the multilayered ZrS3 nanoribbon from the perspective of light absorption. At 10 K, a prominent and broadened peak on the lower-energy side, containing an indirect resonant emission (DI) observed by µPL and an indirect defect-bound exciton peak (AInd) observed by both µPL and µTR, is simultaneously detected, confirming the existence of a quasi-direct band edge in ZrS3. A van der Waals stacked p-GaSe/n-ZrS3 heterojunction solar cell is fabricated, which demonstrates a maximum axially-polarized conversion efficiency up to 0.412% as the E || b polarized light incident onto the device.

Anisotropic quasi-one-dimensional layered transition-metal trichalcogenides: synthesis, properties and applications

The strong in-plane anisotropy and quasi-1D electronic structures of transition-metal trichalcogenides (MX3; M = group IV or V transition metal; X = S, Se, or Te) have pronounced influence on moulding the properties of MX3 materials. In particular, the infinite trigonal MX6 prismatic chains running parallel to the b-axis are responsible for the manifestation of anisotropy in these materials. Several marvellous properties, such as inherent electronic, optical, electrical, magnetic, superconductivity, and charge density wave (CDW) transport properties, make transition-metal trichalcogenides (TMTCs) stand out from other 2D materials in the fields of nanoscience and materials science. In addition, with the assistance of pressure, temperature, and tensile strain, these materials and their exceptional properties can be tuned to a superior extent. The robust anisotropy and incommensurable properties make the MX3 family fit for accomplishing quite a lot of compelling applications in the areas of field effect transistors (FETs), solar and fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, thermoelectricity, etc. In this review article, a precise audit of the distinctive crystal structures, static and dynamic properties, efficacious synthesis schemes, and enthralling applications of quasi-1D MX3 materials is made.

Strong dichroic emission in the pseudo one dimensional material ZrS3

Zirconium trisulphide (ZrS₃), a member of the layered transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTCs) family, has been studied by angle-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy (ARPLS). The synthesized ZrS₃ layers possess a pseudo one-dimensional nature where each layer consists of ZrS₃ chains extending along the b-lattice direction. Our results show that the optical properties of few-layered ZrS₃ are highly anisotropic as evidenced by large PL intensity variation with the polarization direction. Light is efficiently absorbed when the E-field is polarized along the chain (b-axis), but the field is greatly attenuated and absorption is reduced when it is polarized vertical to the 1D-like chains as the wavelength of the exciting light is much longer than the width of each 1D chain. The observed PL variation with polarization is similar to that of conventional 1D materials, i.e., nanowires, and nanotubes, except for the fact that here the 1D chains interact with each other giving rise to a unique linear dichroism response that falls between the 2D (planar) and 1D (chain) limit. These results not only mark the very first demonstration of PL polarization anisotropy in 2D systems, but also provide novel insight into how the interaction between adjacent 1D-like chains and the 2D nature of each layer influences the overall optical anisotropy of pseudo-1D materials. Results are anticipated to have an impact on optical technologies such as polarized detectors, near-field imaging, communication systems, and bio-applications relying on the generation and detection of polarized light.

Reverse saturable absorption and nonlinear refraction of ultrathin ZrS3 nanobelts

The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a ZrS3 nanobelt were measured with a 6.5 ns pulse laser at 532 nm. Its optical response to the incident light exhibits good optical absorptive and refractive effects, with the nonlinear absorption coefficient β = 4.42 × 10(-10) m W(-1) and the nonlinear refraction coefficient γ = 5.86 × 10(-17) m(2) W(-1) for the ZrS3 nanobelt in ethanol dispersions at an input energy of 34.25 μJ. In addition, the β values and γ values have dependence on input energy. Results show that the ZrS3 nanobelts have an excellent reverse saturable absorption (RSA) performance in nanosecond pulses, demonstrating that ZrS3 nanobelts are an extraordinarily promising novel optical power limiting material. Meanwhile, compared to the pure ZrS3, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), composites (ZrS3/GRO) exhibit an enhanced nonlinear absorption response at the same input energy.