2D Semiconductors Superlattices as Hyperbolic Materials

TL;DR

This paper investigates 2D semiconductor superlattices as natural hyperbolic materials, demonstrating their ability to manipulate light at the nanoscale with a compact, atomic-scale structure suitable for advanced optoelectronic applications.

Contribution

It introduces engineered 2D semiconductor superlattices exhibiting hyperbolic response at visible to near-infrared spectrum with atomic precision, smaller than traditional metal-based hyperbolic metamaterials.

Findings

Superlattices exhibit robust hyperbolic response in visible to near-infrared spectrum.

Dimensions are an order of magnitude smaller than conventional hyperbolic metamaterials.

Control of hyperbolic response through superlattice configuration.

Abstract

Hyperbolic materials are natural or engineered artificial structures that provide means to manipulate and control electromagnetic radiation, leading to a variety of strong light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. In this work, we explore the physical properties of the optical response of 2D semiconductor-based superlattices, which are engineered with atomic precision and composed of alternating 2D semiconductor monolayers and hexagonal-boron-nitride. We find that such superlattices exhibit a robust hyperbolic response at the visible to near-infrared spectrum, and with dimensions that are an order of magnitude smaller compared to conventional metal-based hyperbolic metamaterials, down to three active monolayers. By employing both analytical and numerical studies, we show that by varying the superlattice configuration we can control and manipulate the nature of the hyperbolic response. Finaly, we propose an optimal structure that will enable the experimental observation of this hyperbolic response in 2D semiconductors superlattices. Such highly compact hyperbolic materials of atomic precision could open the way for deep-subwavelength optoelectronic devices with extremely small footprint.