Engineering Nonvolatile Polarization in 2D α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> Ferroelectric Junctions
The advent of two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics offers a new paradigm for device miniaturization and multifunctionality. Recently, 2D α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> and related III–VI compound ferroelectrics manifest room-temperature ferroelectricity and exhibit reversible...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/3/163 |
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| Summary: | The advent of two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics offers a new paradigm for device miniaturization and multifunctionality. Recently, 2D α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> and related III–VI compound ferroelectrics manifest room-temperature ferroelectricity and exhibit reversible spontaneous polarization even at the monolayer limit. Here, we employ first-principles calculations to investigate group-III selenide van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions built up by 2D α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> and α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> ferroelectric (FE) semiconductors, including structural stability, electrostatic potential, interfacial charge transfer, and electronic band structures. When the FE polarization directions of α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> and α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> are parallel, both the α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> P↑↑ (UU) and α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> P↓↓ (NN) configurations possess strong built-in electric fields and hence induce electron–hole separation, resulting in carrier depletion at the α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> heterointerfaces. Conversely, when they are antiparallel, the α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> P↓↑ (NU) and α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> P↑↓ (UN) configurations demonstrate the switchable electron and hole accumulation at the 2D ferroelectric interfaces, respectively. The nonvolatile characteristic of ferroelectric polarization presents an innovative approach to achieving tunable n-type and p-type conductive channels for ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs). In addition, in-plane biaxial strain modulation has successfully modulated the band alignments of the α-In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>/α-Ga<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> ferroelectric heterostructures, inducing a type III–II–III transition in UU and NN, and a type I–II–I transition in UN and NU, respectively. Our findings highlight the great potential of 2D group-III selenides and ferroelectric vdW heterostructures to harness nonvolatile spontaneous polarization for next-generation electronics, nonvolatile optoelectronic memories, sensors, and neuromorphic computing. |
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| ISSN: | 2079-4991 |