TWO-DIMENSIONAL MATERIALS
We use optical pump-probe spectroscopies and time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study excitons and carriers in two-dimensional semiconductors, such as transition metal dichalchogenides (TMDCs). Of particular interest are excitonic phase transitions in TMDC heterobilayers and interaction between magnon and exciton in antiferromagnetic materials.
Nano Lett. 2021, 21, 23, 9903–9908
Nat. Mater. 2021, 20, 1657–1662
Nano Lett. 2021, 21(8), 3511-3517
SUPERATOM SOLIDS
Superatom solids are a new class of materials assembled with nanoscale building blocks of superatomic motifs. This synthetic approach allows us to manipulate material structures and their optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. We can tune optical gaps broadly from mid-IR to the visible region, and control the structural dimensions between 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D. We are studying emergent properties of the materials with optical spectroscopies and scanning-tunneling microscopy.
Adv. Funct. Mater. 2019, 29, 1902951
Nano Lett. 2018, 18, 1483-1488
LIGHT-MATTER INTERACTIONS
We study the fundamental interaction of light with matter, such as lasing and polariton condensates in low-dimensional cavities. In particular, we aim to understand the fundamental scattering processes responsible for polariton condensation and coherent light emission.
Acct. Chem. Res. 2019, 52, 2950-2959
Nat. Mater. 2015, 14, 636-642.
SINGLET FISSION
Singlet fission is the photo-chemical process where one singlet exciton splits into two triplet excitons. The exciton multiplication process can potentially boost the performance of a single-junction solar cell, a photo detector, and perhaps a multi-electron photocatalyst, but the microscopic understanding of singlet fission is necessary. We use multiple ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to understand the singlet fission rates and to explore the harvesting of triplets from the singlet fission process.
Nature Chem. 2017, 9, 341-346.
Science Adv. 2017, 3, e1700241.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 13143-13147
POLARON DYNAMICS IN LEAD HALIDE PEROVSKITES
We seek to understand the exceptional carrier properties in lead halide perovskites from the viewpoint of polarons, the quasi particles of carriers associated with surrounding lattice distortion. Specifically, we propose the ferroelectric polaron concept to explain the efficient screening of charge carriers. We extend the idea to other ferroelectric and paraelectric semiconductors as basis for defect tolerant semiconductors.
Nat. Rev. Chem. 2021, 5, 838–852
Science Adv. 2017, 3, e1701217
Science, 2016, 353, 1409-1413.
X.Y. Zhu Group 