Strong Light-Matter Interactions in Low-Dimensional Optical Materials for Energy Applications

Hosted By: Optics for Energy Technical Group

07 February 2023 12:00 - 13:00

Eastern Time (US & Canada) (UTC -05:00)

The isolation of stable atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials on arbitrary substrates has led to a revolution in solid-state device research. Various other 2D materials (including semiconductors) with varying properties have been isolated, raising the prospects for devices assembled by van der Waals forces. Particularly, these van der Waals bonded semiconductors exhibit strong excitonic resonances and large optical dielectric constants as compared to bulk 3D semiconductors.

In this webinar hosted by the Optics for Energy Technical Group, Deep Jariwala will focus on the subject of strong light-matter coupling in excitonic 2D semiconductors, namely chalcogenides of Mo and W. Visible spectrum band-gaps with strong excitonic absorption makes transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) of molybdenum and tungsten as attractive candidates for investigating strong light-matter interaction formation of hybrid states. Prof. Jariwala will present his recent work on the fundamental physics of light trapping in multi-layer TMDCs when coupled to plasmonic substrates.

Next, Prof. Jariwala will show the extension of these results to halide perovskites and superlattices of excitonic chalcogenides. These hybrid multilayers offer a unique opportunity to tailor the light-dispersion in the strong-coupling regime. If time permits, Prof. Jariwala will also present his recent work on controlling light in magnetic semiconductors, broadband perfect absorbers using 2D semimetals, and scalable, localized quantum emitters from strained 2D semiconductors.

Subject Matter Level: Intermediate - Assumes basic knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• Novel optical materials that are two-dimensional in nature
• Physics of light-trapping and light-matter interactions in excitonic semiconductors
• New opportunities in light harvesting and light modulation using two-dimensional materials

Who Should Attend:
• Undergraduates, graduate, and postdoc

About the Presenter: Deep Jariwala from The University of Pennsylvania

Deep Jariwala is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). Deep completed his undergraduate degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. Deep was a Resnick Prize Postdoctoral Fellow at Caltech before joining Penn to start his research group. His research interests broadly lie at the intersection of new materials and solid-state devices for computing and optoelectronics. Deep’s research has been recognized with several awards, the most prominent being the IEEE Photonics Society Young Investigator Award, IEEE Nanotechnology Young Investigator Award, IUPAP Early Career Scientist Prize in Semiconductors, The Sloan Fellowship, and the Bell Labs Prize. He serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Photonics Technology Letters and npj 2D materials and applications.