arXiv · 2508.18584
Light-programmable reorientation of the crystallographic c-axis of Tellurium thin films
Abstract
Tellurium (Te), a two-dimensional material with pronounced structural anisotropy, exhibits exceptional electrical and optical properties that are highly sensitive to its crystallographic orientation. However, conventional synthesis techniques offer limited control over the in-plane alignment of Te's crystallographic c-axis, hindering large-scale integration. Here, we report a novel, non-contact method to dynamically manipulate the c-axis orientation of Te thin films using linearly polarized picosecond laser pulses. We show that the c-axis can be omnidirectionally reoriented perpendicular to the laser polarization, even in initially polycrystalline films. This reorientation is fully reversible, allowing for rewritable and spatially selective control of the c-axis orientation post-deposition. Our light-driven approach enables programmable anisotropy in Te, opening new avenues for reconfigurable optoelectronic and photonic devices, such as active metasurfaces and CMOS-compatible architectures.
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Yuta Kobayashi, Arata Mitsuzuka, Haruo Kondo, Makoto Shoshin, Jun Uzuhashi, Tadakatsu Ohkubo, Masamitsu Hayashi, Masashi Kawaguchi. 2025-08-26. Light-programmable reorientation of the crystallographic c-axis of Tellurium thin films. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c04774
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