Jan. 16, 2020 — Quantum researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a new method to measure how photocurrents flow in a 2D material — a result that could have implications for developing quantum sensors and next-generation electronics.

By using quantum sensors to visualize the magnetic field in extremely thin molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) — a material just three atoms thick — researchers in David Awschalom’s group at the University of Chicago discovered just how photocurrents (electric currents induced by light) flowed in the material — in this case, surprisingly, in a vortex around the laser. This ultra-sensitive method of measuring such currents in a two-dimensional material, which is a substance with a thickness of a new nanometers or less, will help researchers better understand the material in the hopes of eventually using it to create flexible electronics and solar cells. The results were published January 6 in the journal Physical Review X.

“The ability to observe electronic behavior that is invisible to traditional measurements opens new avenues for scientific study, and ultimately helps us design efficient quantum technologies,” said principal investigator David Awschalom, the Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering, senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, and director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange. “This sensitive measurement technique allows us to explore phenomena at the atomic scale and develop new devices for quantum sensing and communication.

Measuring currents in extremely thin materials

To make the measurement, Awschalom and his team placed MoS₂ on a nitrogen-vacancy center, which is a defect in a diamond where a nitrogen atom sits next to a vacant site in the diamond’s lattice. These spots can be used to study electronic and nuclear spin phenomena.

The team then shined a red laser onto the material to see if they could detect any temporary magnetic disturbances (that they hypothesized the laser might cause). But instead of magnetic disturbances, they detected strong photocurrents, which can result when light is shined onto a material. These photocurrents produce magnetic fields as they flow. Photocurrents are the basis behind the technology in digital cameras, solar cells, and fiber-optic networks.

The researchers were surprised to discover the photocurrents traveling in a vortex around the laser — a shape that would be impossible to detect with other techniques.

Traditional methods to measure how photocurrents flow through MoS₂ are difficult to perform and are often incorrect. Understanding this phenomenon is important to develop potentially flexible and transparent electronics from MoS₂ and other 2D materials.

“We are much happier that we found photocurrents instead of the magnetic disturbances we were looking for,” said Paul Jerger, a graduate student in Awschalom’s lab who conducted the research with former postdoctoral fellow Brian Zhou, who is now at Boston College. “Understanding photocurrents will help us better understand the electrical properties of materials like this, with the hopes of using them for electronics like digital cameras or solar cells.”

Creating more compact quantum devices

The finding could pave the way for better experimental setups in the lab, where the nitrogen-vacancy centers are used to conduct quantum operations. It will also be useful for understanding how photocurrents are generated and propagated, which could enable researchers to use thin materials for digital cameras, solar cells, or even on-demand magnetic fields that don’t require any electrical wires.

Next the team hopes to adapt the process to measure photocurrents at room temperature, and to try to apply this technique to measure photocurrents in other thin materials, like graphene.

“As we synthesize quantum materials of the highest quality, we ideally want to measure them without making disruptive electrical connections,” said Jiwoong Park, professor of chemistry and joint appointee at Argonne National Laboratory, whose group created the MoS₂ used in the study. “This new technique allows us to do that, paving the way to develop novel quantum materials in industrial-scale processes.”

Other authors on the paper include Kan-Heng Lee, Masaya Fukami, and Fauzia Mujid.

About the Chicago Quantum Exchange

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub and community of researchers with the common goal of advancing academic and industrial efforts in the science and engineering of quantum information across CQE members, partners, and our region. The hub aims to promote the exploration of quantum information technologies and the development of new applications. The CQE facilitates interactions between research groups of its member and partner institutions and provides an avenue for developing and fostering collaborations, joint projects, and information exchange.

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Source: Chicago Quantum Exchange