Amorphous to Crystal Phase Change Memory Effect with Two-Fold Bandgap Difference in Semiconducting K2Bi8Se13.

Chalcogenide-based phase change memory (PCM) is a key enabling technology for optical data storage and electrical nonvolatile memory. Here, we report a new phase change chalcogenide consisting of a 3D network of ionic (K···Se) and covalent bonds (Bi-Se), K2Bi8Se13 (KBS). Thin films of amorphous KBS deposited by DC sputtering are structurally and chemically homogeneous and exhibit a surface roughness of 5 nm. The KBS film crystallizes upon heating at ∼483 K. The optical bandgap of the amorphous film is about 1.25 eV, while its crystalline phase has a bandgap of ∼0.65 eV shows 2-fold difference between the two states. The bulk electrical conductivity of the amorphous and crystalline film is ∼7.5 × 10-4 and ∼2.7 × 10-2 S/cm, respectively. We have demonstrated a phase change memory effect in KBS by Joule heating in a technologically relevant vertical memory cell architecture. Upon Joule heating, the vertical device undergoes switching from its amorphous to crystalline state of KBS at 1-1.5 V (∼50 kV/cm), increasing conductivity by a factor of ∼40. Besides the large electrical and optical contrast in the crystalline and amorphous KBS, its elemental cost-effectiveness, stoichiometry, fast crystallization kinetics, as determined by the ratio of the glass transition and melting temperature, Tg/Tm ∼ 0.5, as well as the scalable synthesis of the thin film determine that KBS is a promising PC material for next general phase change memory.

Hyperbolic Dispersion Arising from Anisotropic Excitons in Two-Dimensional Perovskites.

Excitations of free electrons and optical phonons are known to permit access to the negative real part of relative permittivities (ϵ^{'}<0) that yield strong light-matter interactions. However, negative ϵ^{'} arising from excitons has been much less explored. Via development of a dielectric-coating based technique described herein, we report fundamental optical properties of two-dimensional hybrid perovskites (2DHPs), composed of alternating layers of inorganic and organic sublattices. Low members of 2DHPs (N=1 and N=2) exhibit negative ϵ^{'} stemming from the large exciton binding energy and sizable oscillator strength. Furthermore, hyperbolic dispersion (i.e., ϵ^{'} changes sign with directions) occurs in the visible range, which has been previously achieved only with artificial metamaterials. Such naturally occurring, exotic dispersion stems from the extremely anisotropic excitonic behaviors of 2DHPs, and can intrinsically support a large photonic density of states. We suggest that several other van der Waals solids may exhibit similar behaviors arising from excitonic response.

Ferroelectric Polarization and Second Harmonic Generation in Supramolecular Cocrystals with Two Axes of Charge-Transfer.

Ferroelectricity in organic materials remains a subject of great interest, given its potential impact as lightweight information storage media. Here we report supramolecular charge-transfer cocrystals formed by electron acceptor and donor molecules that exhibit ferroelectric behavior along two distinct crystallographic axes. The solid-state superstructure of the cocrystals reveals that a 2:1 ratio of acceptor to donor molecules assemble into nearly orthogonal mixed stacks in which the molecules are positioned for charge-transfer in face-to-face and edge-to-face orientations, held together by an extended hydrogen-bonding network. Polarization hysteresis was observed along the face-to-face and edge-to-face axes at room temperature. The noncentrosymmetric nature of the cocrystals, required to observe ferroelectric behavior, is demonstrated using second harmonic generation measurements. This finding suggests the possibility of designing supramolecular arrays in which organic molecules support multidimensional information storage.

Gigahertz Acoustic Vibrations of Elastically Anisotropic Indium-Tin-Oxide Nanorod Arrays.

Active control of light is important for photonic integrated circuits, optical switches, and telecommunications. Coupling light with acoustic vibrations in nanoscale optical resonators offers optical modulation capabilities with high bandwidth and small footprint. Instead of using noble metals, here we introduce indium-tin-oxide nanorod arrays (ITO-NRAs) as the operating media and demonstrate optical modulation covering the visible spectral range (from 360 to 700 nm) with ∼20 GHz bandwidth through the excitation of coherent acoustic vibrations in ITO-NRAs. This broadband modulation results from the collective optical diffraction by the dielectric ITO-NRAs, and a high differential transmission modulation up to 10% is achieved through efficient near-infrared, on-plasmon-resonance pumping. By combining the frequency signatures of the vibrational modes with finite-element simulations, we further determine the anisotropic elastic constants for single-crystalline ITO, which are not known for the bulk phase. This technique to determine elastic constants using coherent acoustic vibrations of uniform nanostructures can be generalized to the study of other inorganic materials.

Hybrid germanium iodide perovskite semiconductors: active lone pairs, structural distortions, direct and indirect energy gaps, and strong nonlinear optical properties.

The synthesis and properties of the hybrid organic/inorganic germanium perovskite compounds, AGeI3, are reported (A = Cs, organic cation). The systematic study of this reaction system led to the isolation of 6 new hybrid semiconductors. Using CsGeI3 (1) as the prototype compound, we have prepared methylammonium, CH3NH3GeI3 (2), formamidinium, HC(NH2)2GeI3 (3), acetamidinium, CH3C(NH2)2GeI3 (4), guanidinium, C(NH2)3GeI3 (5), trimethylammonium, (CH3)3NHGeI3 (6), and isopropylammonium, (CH3)2C(H)NH3GeI3 (7) analogues. The crystal structures of the compounds are classified based on their dimensionality with 1­4 forming 3D perovskite frameworks and 5­7 1D infinite chains. Compounds 1­7, with the exception of compounds 5 (centrosymmetric) and 7 (nonpolar acentric), crystallize in polar space groups. The 3D compounds have direct band gaps of 1.6 eV (1), 1.9 eV (2), 2.2 eV (3), and 2.5 eV (4), while the 1D compounds have indirect band gaps of 2.7 eV (5), 2.5 eV (6), and 2.8 eV (7). Herein, we report on the second harmonic generation (SHG) properties of the compounds, which display remarkably strong, type I phase-matchable SHG response with high laser-induced damage thresholds (up to ∼3 GW/cm(2)). The second-order nonlinear susceptibility, χS(2), was determined to be 125.3 ± 10.5 pm/V (1), (161.0 ± 14.5) pm/V (2), 143.0 ± 13.5 pm/V (3), and 57.2 ± 5.5 pm/V (4). First-principles density functional theory electronic structure calculations indicate that the large SHG response is attributed to the high density of states in the valence band due to sp-hybridization of the Ge and I orbitals, a consequence of the lone pair activation.

Cupric oxide inclusions in cuprous oxide crystals grown by the floating zone method.

Phase-pure cuprous oxide (Cu2O) crystals are difficult to grow since cupric oxide can form within the crystal as the crystal is cooled to ambient conditions. Vacancies are the solute which causes precipitation of macroscopic defects. Therefore, even when a mostly phase-pure single crystal is used as a feed rod, cupric oxide inclusions persist in the recrystallized solid. Control of the thermal profile during crystal growth, however, can improve phase-purity; a slow counter-rotation rate of the feed and seed rods results in fewer inclusions. Cupric oxide can be removed by annealing, which produces a factor of 540 ± 70 increase in phase-purity.

Third-harmonic generation in cuprous oxide: efficiency determination.

The efficiency of third-harmonic generation in cuprous oxide was measured. Intensities followed a noncubic power law that indicates nonperturbative behavior. Polarization anisotropy of the harmonic generation was demonstrated and related to the third-order susceptibility. The results will influence the understanding of harmonic generation in centrosymmetric materials and are potentially relevant to device design and the interpretation of exciton behavior.

Realizing the Heteromorphic Superlattice: Repeated Heterolayers of Amorphous Insulator and Polycrystalline Semiconductor with Minimal Interface Defects.

An unconventional "heteromorphic" superlattice (HSL) is realized, comprised of repeated layers of different materials with differing morphologies: semiconducting pc-In2 O3 layers interleaved with insulating a-MoO3 layers. Originally proposed by Tsu in 1989, yet never fully realized, the high quality of the HSL heterostructure demonstrated here validates the intuition of Tsu, whereby the flexibility of the bond angle in the amorphous phase and the passivation effect of the oxide at interfacial bonds serve to create smooth, high-mobility interfaces. The alternating amorphous layers prevent strain accumulation in the polycrystalline layers while suppressing defect propagation across the HSL. For the HSL with 7:7 nm layer thickness, the observed electron mobility of 71 cm2  Vs-1 , matches that of the highest quality In2 O3 thin films. The atomic structure and electronic properties of crystalline In2 O3 /amorphous MoO3 interfaces are verified using ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations and hybrid functional calculations. This work generalizes the superlattice concept to an entirely new paradigm of morphological combinations.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from silver-coated opals.

We describe surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurements from a benzenethiol monolayer adsorbed on a silver-coated film that is, in turn, deposited on an artificial opal, where the latter is a close-packed three-dimensional dielectric lattice formed from polystyrene spheres. Data for a range of sphere sizes, silver film thicknesses, and laser excitation wavelengths are obtained. Enhancement factors can be in the range of 10(7). To partially explain these large enhancements, we have performed model finite-difference time domain simulations of the position-dependent electric fields generated at the opal surfaces for several experimentally studied laser wavelengths and sphere diameters.

Strongly nonlinear optical glass fibers from noncentrosymmetric phase-change chalcogenide materials.

We report that the one-dimensional polar selenophosphate compounds APSe(6) (A = K, Rb), which show crystal-glass phase-change behavior, exhibit strong second harmonic generation (SHG) response in both crystal and glassy forms. The crystalline materials are type-I phase-matchable with SHG coefficients chi((2)) of 151.3 and 149.4 pm V(-1) for K(+) and Rb(+) salts, respectively, which is the highest among phase-matchable nonlinear optical (NLO) materials with band gaps over 1.0 eV. The glass of APSe(6) exhibits comparable SHG intensities to the top infrared NLO material AgGaSe(2) without any poling treatments. APSe(6) exhibit excellent mid-IR transparency. We demonstrate that starting from noncentrosymmetric phase-change materials such as APSe(6) (A = K, Rb), we can obtain optical glass fibers with strong, intrinsic, and temporally stable second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) response. The as-prepared glass fibers exhibit SHG and difference frequency generation (DFG) responses over a wide range of wavelengths. Raman spectroscopy and pair distribution function (PDF) analyses provide further understanding of the local structure in amorphous state of KPSe(6) bulk glass and glass fiber. We propose that this approach can be widely applied to prepare permanent NLO glass from materials that undergo a phase-change process.

Soluble semiconductors AAsSe2 (A = Li, Na) with a direct-band-gap and strong second harmonic generation: a combined experimental and theoretical study.

AAsSe(2) (A = Li, Na) have been identified as a new class of polar direct-band gap semiconductors. These I-V-VI(2) ternary alkali-metal chalcoarsenates have infinite single chains of (1/infinity)[AsQ(2)(-)] derived from corner-sharing pyramidal AsQ(3) units with stereochemically active lone pairs of electrons on arsenic. The conformations and packing of the chains depend on the structure-directing alkali metals. This results in at least four different structural types for the Li(1-x)Na(x)AsSe(2) stoichiometry (alpha-LiAsSe(2), beta-LiAsSe(2), gamma-NaAsSe(2), and delta-NaAsSe(2)). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed an average cubic NaCl-type structure for alpha-LiAsSe(2), which was further demonstrated to be locally distorted by pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The beta and gamma forms have polar structures built of different (1/infinity)[AsSe(2)(-)] chain conformations, whereas the delta form has nonpolar packing. A wide range of direct band gaps are observed, depending on composition: namely, 1.11 eV for alpha-LiAsSe(2), 1.60 eV for LiAsS(2), 1.75 eV for gamma-NaAsSe(2), 2.23 eV for NaAsS(2). The AAsQ(2) materials are soluble in common solvents such as methanol, which makes them promising candidates for solution processing. Band structure calculations performed with the highly precise screened-exchange sX-LDA FLAPW method confirm the direct-gap nature and agree well with experiment. The polar gamma-NaAsSe(2) shows very large nonlinear optical (NLO) second harmonic generation (SHG) response in the wavelength range of 600-950 nm. The theoretical studies confirm the experimental results and show that gamma-NaAsSe(2) has the highest static SHG coefficient known to date, 337.9 pm/V, among materials with band gaps larger than 1.0 eV.

(Ag2TeS3)2·A2S6 (A = Rb, Cs): layers of silver thiotellurite intergrown with alkali-metal polysulfides.

The layered compounds RbAg(2)TeS(6) and CsAg(2)TeS(6) crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric space group P6(3)cm, with a = 19.15 Å, c = 14.64 Å, and V = 4648 Å(3) and a = 19.41 Å, c = 14.84 Å, and V = 4839 Å(3), respectively. The structures are composed of neutral [Ag(2)TeS(3)] layers alternating with charge-balanced salt layers containing polysulfide chains of [S(6)](2-) and alkali-metal ions. RbAg(2)TeS(6) and CsAg(2)TeS(6) are air- and water-stable, wide-band-gap semiconductors (E(g) ∼ 2.0 eV) exhibiting nonlinear-optical second-harmonic generation.

Strong second harmonic generation from the tantalum thioarsenates A3Ta2AsS11 (A = K and Rb).

The strongly anisotropic thioarsenates A(3)Ta(2)AsS(11) are stabilized in a polysulfide flux. All compounds contain the same parallel (1)/(infinity)[Ta(2)AsS(11)(3-)] polymeric anionic chains, but the size of the alkali-metals has a profound effect on the packing of the chains. The K(+) or Rb(+) favor noncentrosymmetric packing of the chains, whereas the larger Cs(+) favors the centrosymmetric packing. The chains feature the combination of two asymmetric units [Ta(2)S(11)] and [AsS(3)] and exhibit strong nonlinear optical (NLO) second harmonic generation (SHG) response. Polycrystalline samples exhibit is up to approximately 15 times stronger SHG than that of commercially used AgGaSe(2).

Chalcogenide chemistry in ionic liquids: nonlinear optical wave-mixing properties of the double-cubane compound [Sb7S8Br2](AlCl4)3.

The new cation [Sb(7)S(8)Br(2)](3+) has a double-cubane structure and forms as the [AlCl(4)](-) salt from the ionic liquid EMIMBr-AlCl(3) (EMIM = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) at 165 degrees C. The compound is noncentrosymmetric with space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and exhibits second-harmonic and difference-frequency nonlinear optical response across a wide range of the visible and near-infrared regions.

Flexible polar nanowires of Cs5BiP4Se12 from weak interactions between coordination complexes: strong nonlinear optical second harmonic generation.

The Cs(5)BiP(4)Se(12) salt grows naturally as nanowires that crystallize in the polar space group Pmc2(1), with a = 7.5357(2) A, b = 13.7783(6) A, c = 28.0807(8) A, and Z = 4 at 293(2) K. The compound features octahedral [Bi(P(2)Se(6))(2)](5-) coordination complexes that stack via weak intermolecular Se...Se interactions to form long, flexible fibers and nanowires. The Cs(5)BiP(4)Se(12) fibers are transparent in the near- and mid-IR ranges and were found to exhibit a nonlinear optical second harmonic generation response at 1 microm that is approximately twice that of the benchmark material AgGaSe(2). The material has a nearly direct band gap of 1.85 eV and melts congruently at 590 degrees C. Ab initio electronic structure calculations performed with the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method show that the band gap increases from its local density approximation (LDA) spin-orbit coupling value of 1.15 eV to the higher value of 2.0 eV when the screened-exchange LDA method is invoked and explain how the long nanowire nature of Cs(5)BiP(4)Se(12) emerges.

Large third-order susceptibility and third-harmonic generation in centrosymmetric Cu(2)O crystal.

We present what we believe to be the first experimental determination of the third-order optical susceptibility chi((3)) of bulk cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) crystals. The measured nonlinear refractive index, obtained with the Z-scan technique at 1064 nm, is n(2)=1.32x10(-10) esu, while the two-photon absorption coefficient is beta=5.0 cm/GW of Cu(2)O. We also observe strong third-harmonic generation (THG) from Cu(2)O in our detection range owing to its unique crystal and electronic structure. Considering that the first nonvanishing nonlinear term is chi((3)), this classical semiconductor could be utilized as a promising active THG medium.

Infrared-pump electronic-probe of methylammonium lead iodide reveals electronically decoupled organic and inorganic sublattices.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites such as methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) are game-changing semiconductors for solar cells and light-emitting devices owing to their defect tolerance and exceptionally long carrier lifetimes and diffusion lengths. Determining whether the dynamically disordered organic cations with large dipole moment benefit the optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 has been an outstanding challenge. Herein, via transient absorption measurements employing an infrared pump pulse tuned to a methylammonium vibration, we observe slow, nanosecond-long thermal dissipation from the selectively excited organic mode to the inorganic sublattice. The resulting transient electronic signatures, during the period of thermal-nonequilibrium when the induced thermal motions are mostly concentrated on the organic sublattice, reveal that the induced atomic motions of the organic cations do not alter the absorption or the photoluminescence response of CH3NH3PbI3, beyond thermal effects. Our results suggest that the attractive optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 mainly derive from the inorganic lead-halide framework.

1/infinity [ZrPSe6-]: a soluble photoluminescent inorganic polymer and strong second harmonic generation response of its alkali salts.

Zirconium selenophosphate compounds with a unique polar structure show strong second harmonic generation and they dissolve in polar solvent to produce photoluminescent solutions.

[Zn(H2O)4][Zn2Sn3Se9(MeNH2)]: a robust open framework chalcogenide with a large nonlinear optical response.

[Zn(H2O)4][Zn2Sn3Se9(MeNH2)] has an open polar framework based on supertetrahedral clusters with a unique double connectivity mode and exhibits a strong second harmonic generation response, excellent acid stability and proton exchange capacity.

Cross-plane coherent acoustic phonons in two-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites.

Two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper organic-inorganic hybrid layered perovskites (2D RPs) are solution-grown semiconductors with prospective applications in next-generation optoelectronics. The heat-carrying, low-energy acoustic phonons, which are important for heat management of 2D RP-based devices, have remained unexplored. Here we report on the generation and propagation of coherent longitudinal acoustic phonons along the cross-plane direction of 2D RPs, following separate characterizations of below-bandgap refractive indices. Through experiments on single crystals of systematically varied perovskite layer thickness, we demonstrate significant reduction in both group velocity and propagation length of acoustic phonons in 2D RPs as compared to the three-dimensional methylammonium lead iodide counterpart. As borne out by a minimal coarse-grained model, these vibrational properties arise from a large acoustic impedance mismatch between the alternating layers of perovskite sheets and bulky organic cations. Our results inform on thermal transport in highly impedance-mismatched crystal sub-lattices and provide insights towards design of materials that exhibit highly anisotropic thermal dissipation properties.