Nanomechanical Spectroscopy of 2D Materials

in Nano Letters (2022), 22(20), 8037--8044

We introduce a nanomechanical platform for fast and sensitive measurements of the spectrally resolved optical dielectric function of 2D materials. At the heart of our approach is a suspended 2D material ... [more ▼]

We introduce a nanomechanical platform for fast and sensitive measurements of the spectrally resolved optical dielectric function of 2D materials. At the heart of our approach is a suspended 2D material integrated into a high Q silicon nitride nanomechanical resonator illuminated by a wavelength-tunable laser source. From the heating-related frequency shift of the resonator as well as its optical reflection measured as a function of photon energy, we obtain the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function. Our measurements are unaffected by substrate-related screening and do not require any assumptions on the underling optical constants. This fast ($\tau$rise∼135 ns), sensitive (noise-equivalent power = 90 pW/√Hz), and broadband (1.2-3.1 eV, extendable to UV-THz) method provides an attractive alternative to spectroscopic or ellipsometric characterization techniques. [less ▲]

Machine learning in nanoscience: big data at small scales

in Nano Letters (2020), 20(1), 2-10

Recent advances in machine learning (ML) offer new tools to extract new insights from large data sets and to acquire small data sets more effectively. Researchers in nanoscience are experimenting with ... [more ▼]

Recent advances in machine learning (ML) offer new tools to extract new insights from large data sets and to acquire small data sets more effectively. Researchers in nanoscience are experimenting with these tools to tackle challenges in many fields. In addition to ML’s advancement of nanoscience, nanoscience provides the foundation for neuromorphic computing hardware to expand the implementation of ML algorithms. In this mini-review, which is not able to be comprehensive, we highlight some recent efforts to connect the ML and nanoscience communities focusing on three types of interaction: (1) using ML to analyze and extract new information from large nanoscience data sets, (2) applying ML to accelerate materials discovery, including the use of active learning to guide experimental design, and (3) the nanoscience of memristive devices to realize hardware tailored for ML. We conclude with a discussion of challenges and opportunities for future interactions between nanoscience and ML researchers. [less ▲]

Hyperbolic Meta-Antennas Enable Full Control of Scattering and Absorption of Light

in Nano Letters (2019), 19(3), 1851-1859

We introduce a novel concept of hybrid metal-dielectric meta-antenna supporting type II hyperbolic dispersion, which enables full control of absorption and scattering of light in the visible/near-infrared ... [more ▼]

We introduce a novel concept of hybrid metal-dielectric meta-antenna supporting type II hyperbolic dispersion, which enables full control of absorption and scattering of light in the visible/near-infrared spectral range. This ability lies in the different nature of the localized hyperbolic Bloch-like modes excited within the meta-antenna. The experimental evidence is corroborated by a comprehensive theoretical study. In particular, we demonstrate that two main modes, one radiative and one non-radiative, can be excited by direct coupling with the free-space radiation. We show that the scattering is the dominating electromagnetic decay channel, when an electric dipolar mode is induced in the system, whereas a strong absorption process occurs when a magnetic dipole is excited. Also, by varying the geometry of the system, the relative ratio of scattering and absorption, as well as their relative enhancement and/or quenching, can be tuned at will over a broad spectral range, thus enabling full control of the two channels. Importantly, both radiative and nonradiative modes supported by our architecture can be excited directly with far-field radiation. This is observed to occur even when the radiative channels (scattering) are almost totally suppressed, thereby making the proposed architecture suitable for practical applications. Finally, the hyperbolic meta-antennas possess both angular and polarization independent structural integrity, unlocking promising applications as hybrid meta-surfaces or as solvable nanostructures. [less ▲]

Plasmonic nanopores for single-molecule detection and manipulation: towards sequencing applications

in Nano Letters (2019), 19(11), 7553-7562

Solid-state nanopore-based sensors are promising platforms for next-generation sequencing technologies, featuring label-free single-molecule sensitivity, rapid detection, and low-cost manufacturing. In ... [more ▼]

Solid-state nanopore-based sensors are promising platforms for next-generation sequencing technologies, featuring label-free single-molecule sensitivity, rapid detection, and low-cost manufacturing. In recent years, solid-state nanopores have been explored due to their miscellaneous fabrication methods and their use in a wide range of sensing applications. Here, we highlight a novel family of solid-state nanopores which have recently appeared, namely plasmonic nanopores. The use of plasmonic nanopores to engineer electromagnetic fields around a nanopore sensor allows for enhanced optical spectroscopies, local control over temperature, thermophoresis of molecules and ions to/from the sensor, and trapping of entities. This Mini Review offers a comprehensive understanding of the current state-of-the-art plasmonic nanopores for single-molecule detection and biomolecular sequencing applications and discusses the latest advances and future perspectives on plasmonic nanopore-based technologies. [less ▲]

Intravalley Spin-Flip Relaxation Dynamics in Single-Layer WS2

in NANO LETTERS (2018), 18(11), 6882-6891

In monolayer (1L) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) the valence and conduction bands are spin-split because of the strong spin-orbit interaction. In tungsten-based TMDs the spin-ordering of the ... [more ▼]

In monolayer (1L) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) the valence and conduction bands are spin-split because of the strong spin-orbit interaction. In tungsten-based TMDs the spin-ordering of the conduction band is such that the so-called dark excitons, consisting of electrons and holes with opposite spin orientation, have lower energy than A excitons. The transition from bright to dark excitons involves the scattering of electrons from the upper to the lower conduction band at the K point of the Brillouin zone, with detrimental effects for the optoelectronic response of 1L-TMDs, since this reduces their light emission efficiency. Here, we exploit the valley selective optical selection rules and use two-color helicity-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy to directly measure the intravalley spin-flip relaxation dynamics in 1L-WS2. This occurs on a sub-ps time scale, and it is significantly dependent on temperature, indicative of phonon-assisted relaxation. Time-dependent ab initio calculations show that intravalley spin-flip scattering occurs on significantly longer time scales only at the K point, while the occupation of states away from the minimum of the conduction band significantly reduces the scattering time. Our results shed light on the scattering processes determining the light emission efficiency in optoelectronic and photonic devices based on 1L-TMDs. [less ▲]

Magnetic Control of the Chiroptical Plasmonic Surfaces

in Nano Letters (2018), 18(1), 302-307

A major challenge facing plasmon nanophotonics is the poor dynamic tunability. A functional nanophotonic element would feature the real-time sizable tunability of transmission, reflection of light's ... [more ▼]

A major challenge facing plasmon nanophotonics is the poor dynamic tunability. A functional nanophotonic element would feature the real-time sizable tunability of transmission, reflection of light's intensity or polarization over a broad range of wavelengths, and would be robust and easy to integrate. Several approaches have been explored so far including mechanical deformation, thermal, or refractive index effects, and all-optical switching. Here we devise an ultrathin chiroptical surface, built on two-dimensional nanoantennas, where the chiral light transmission is controlled by the externally applied magnetic field. The magnetic field-induced modulation of the far-field chiroptical response with this surface exceeds 100% in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges, opening the route for nanometer-thin magnetoplasmonic light-modulating surfaces tuned in real time and featuring a broad spectral response. [less ▲]

Tuning the Pseudospin Polarization of Graphene by a Pseudomagnetic Field

in Nano Letters (2017), 17

One of the intriguing characteristics of honeycomb lattices is the appearance of a pseudomagnetic field as a result of mechanical deformation. In the case of graphene, the Landau quantization resulting ... [more ▼]

One of the intriguing characteristics of honeycomb lattices is the appearance of a pseudomagnetic field as a result of mechanical deformation. In the case of graphene, the Landau quantization resulting from this pseudomagnetic field has been measured using scanning tunneling microscopy. Here we show that a signature of the pseudomagnetic field is a local sublattice symmetry breaking observable as a redistribution of the local density of states. This can be interpreted as a polarization of graphene’s pseudospin due to a strain induced pseudomagnetic field, in analogy to the alignment of a real spin in a magnetic field. We reveal this sublattice symmetry breaking by tunably straining graphene using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The tip locally lifts the graphene membrane from a SiO2 support, as visible by an increased slope of the I(z) curves. The amount of lifting is consistent with molecular dynamics calculations, which reveal a deformed graphene area under the tip in the shape of a Gaussian. The pseudomagnetic field induced by the deformation becomes visible as a sublattice symmetry breaking which scales with the lifting height of the strained deformation and therefore with the pseudomagnetic field strength. Its magnitude is quantitatively reproduced by analytic and tight-binding models, revealing fields of 1000 T. These results might be the starting point for an effective THz valley filter, as a basic element of valleytronics. [less ▲]

Anisotropic Nanoantenna-Based Magnetoplasmonic Crystals for Highly Enhanced and Tunable Magneto-Optical Activity

in Nano Letters (2016), 16(4), 2533-2542

We present a novel concept of a magnetically tunable plasmonic crystal based on the excitation of Fano lattice surface modes in periodic arrays of magnetic and optically anisotropic nanoantennas. We show ... [more ▼]

We present a novel concept of a magnetically tunable plasmonic crystal based on the excitation of Fano lattice surface modes in periodic arrays of magnetic and optically anisotropic nanoantennas. We show how coherent diffractive far-field coupling between elliptical nickel nanoantennas is governed by the two in-plane, orthogonal and spectrally detuned plasmonic responses of the individual building block, one directly induced by the incident radiation and the other induced by the application of an external magnetic field. The consequent excitation of magnetic field-induced Fano lattice surface modes leads to highly tunable and amplified magneto-optical effects as compared to a continuous film or metasurfaces made of disordered noninteracting magnetoplasmonic anisotropic nanoantennas. The concepts presented here can be exploited to design novel magnetoplasmonic sensors based on coupled localized plasmonic resonances, and nanoscale metamaterials for precise control and magnetically driven tunability of light polarization states. [less ▲]

Low B field magneto-phonon resonances in single-layer and bilayer graphene

in Nano Letters (2015), 15(3), 1547--1552

Magnetoplasmonic Design Rules for Active Magneto-Optics

in Nano Letters (2014), 14(12), 7207-7214

Light polarization rotators and nonreciprocal optical isolators are essential building blocks in photonics technology. These macroscopic passive devices are commonly based on magneto-optical Faraday and ... [more ▼]

Light polarization rotators and nonreciprocal optical isolators are essential building blocks in photonics technology. These macroscopic passive devices are commonly based on magneto-optical Faraday and Kerr polarization rotation. Magnetoplasmonics, the combination of magnetism and plasmonics, is a promising route to bring these devices to the nanoscale. We introduce design rules for highly tunable active magnetoplasmonic elements in which we can tailor the amplitude and sign of the Kerr response over a broad spectral range. [less ▲]