Photonics in Flatland: Challenges and Opportunities for Nanophotonics with 2D Semiconductors

TL;DR

This paper reviews the potential of 2D semiconductors in nanophotonics, discussing their tunable optical properties, current challenges, and future opportunities for scalable optoelectronic and quantum devices.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances and identifies key challenges and opportunities for integrating 2D semiconductors into nanophotonic applications.

Findings

Advances in fabrication and strain engineering improve material quality.

Potential for scalable integration into photonic devices.

Opportunities for quantum photonics and valleytronics.

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are emerging as a versatile platform for nanophotonics, offering unprecedented tunability in optical properties through exciton resonance engineering, van der Waals heterostructuring, and external field control. These materials enable active optical modulation, single-photon emission, quantum photonics, and valleytronic functionalities, paving the way for next-generation optoelectronic and quantum photonic devices. However, key challenges remain in achieving large-area integration, maintaining excitonic coherence, and optimizing amplitude-phase modulation for efficient light manipulation. Advances in fabrication, strain engineering, and computational modelling will be crucial to overcoming these limitations. This perspective highlights recent progress in 2D semiconductor-based nanophotonics, emphasizing opportunities for scalable integration into photonics.