Seeking for thermoelectric (TE) materials with high figure of merit (or ZT), which can directly converts low-grade wasted heat (400 to 500 K) into electricity, has been a big challenge. Inspired by the concept of multilayer thermionic devices, we propose and design a solid-state thermionic devices (as a power generator or a refrigerator) in using van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure sandwiched b...

Structural and electronic properties of two-dimensional stanene and graphene heterostructure (Sn/G) are studied by using first-principles calculations. Various supercell models are constructed in order to reduce the strain induced by the lattice mismatch. The results show that stanene interacts overall weakly with graphene via van der Waals (vdW) interactions. Multiple phases of different cryst...

This paper presents the experimental results concerning the study of the photoelectric behaviour of a multijunction type multilayer mixed heterostructure with photosynthetic pigments (Chl) having the form: SnOx/nCdS:pChl-p Chl-pCuxS-Al-Chl/Cu. Being constituted from more series-superposed and vertically-illuminated semiconductor junctions, the respective photosystem allows the selective usage o...

The success of van der Waals heterostructures made of graphene, metal dichalcogenides and other layered materials, hinges on the understanding of charge transfer across the interface as the foundation for new device concepts and applications. In contrast to conventional heterostructures, where a strong interfacial coupling is essential to charge transfer, recent experimental findings indicate t...

van der Waals junctions of two-dimensional materials with an atomically sharp interface open up unprecedented opportunities to design and study functional heterostructures. Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides have shown tremendous potential for future applications due to their unique electronic properties and strong light-matter interaction. However, many important optoelectronic ap...

The recurrence theory for the breakdown probability in avalanche photodiodes (APDs) is generalized to heterostructure APDs that may have multiple multiplication layers. The generalization addresses layer-boundary effects such as the initial energy of injected carriers as well as the layer-dependent profile of the dead space in the multiplication region. Reducing the width of the multiplication ...

Herein, we demonstrated an apparent electric field control of magnetization reorientation at room temperature, through a strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling in ferromagnetic/ferroelectric (FM/FE) multiferroic heterostructure. As the applied electric field increased, the magnetization tended to deviate from the original direction, which was induced by nonlinear strain vs electric-field beha...

The structural, electronic, transport and optical properties of black phosphorus/MoS2 (BP/MoS2) van der Waals (vdw) heterostructure are investigated by using first principles calculations. The band gap of BP/MoS2 bilayer decreases with the applied normal compressive strain and a semiconductor-to-metal transition is observed when the applied strain is more than 0.85 Å. BP/MoS2 bilayer also exhib...

Solid-state lighting (SSL) technologies, based on semiconductor light emitting devices, have the potential to reduce worldwide electricity consumption by more than 10%, which could significantly reduce U.S. dependence on imported energy and improve energy security. The III-nitride (AlGaInN) materials system forms the foundation for white SSL and could cover a wide spectral range from the deep U...

Core/shell heterostructure composite has great potential applications in photocatalytic field because the introduction of core can remarkably improve charge transport and enhance the electron-hole separation. Herein, hierarchical Bi2S3/In2S3 core/shell structured microspheres were prepared via a simple one-pot hydrothermal process based on different growth rate of the two kinds of sulphides. Th...