Renormalizing Antiferroelectric Nanostripes in $\beta'-\mathrm{In}_{2}\mathrm{Se}_{3}$ via Optomechanics

TL;DR

This paper predicts that optomechanical effects, specifically near-infrared and above bandgap light, can control the width and induce photocurrents in antiferroelectric nanostripes of $eta'- ext{In}_2 ext{Se}_3$, enabling optical manipulation of their phases.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for controlling antiferroelectric nanostripe widths in 2D materials using light irradiation, combining first-principles calculations with thermodynamic estimations.

Findings

Near-infrared light reduces nanostripe width via thermodynamic effects.

Above bandgap polarized light generates specific photocurrents.

Optical control enables phase transition manipulation in 2D antiferroelectrics.

Abstract

Antiferroelectric (AFE) materials have received tremendous attention owing to their high energy conversion efficiency and good tunability. Recently, an exotic two-dimensional (2D) AFE material, $\beta'-\mathrm{In}_{2}\mathrm{Se}_{3}$ monolayer that could host atomically thin AFE nanostripe domains has been experimentally synthesized and theoretically examined. In this work, we apply first-principles calculations and theoretical estimations to predict that light irradiation can control the nanostripe width of such a system. We suggest that an intermediate near-infrared light (below bandgap) could effectively harness the thermodynamic Gibbs free energy, and the AFE nanostripe width will gradually reduce. We also propose to use an above bandgap linearly polarized light to generate AFE nanostripespecific photocurrent, providing an all-optical pump-probe setup for such AFE nanostripe width phase transitions.