arXiv subjects

Aymen Mahmoudi

Publications and source records attributed to Aymen Mahmoudi.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Ultrafast dynamics of excitons in black phosphorus

Excitons are key quasiparticles determining the optical properties of solids. As such, they can be utilized to coherently control the electronic structure of materials using optical femtosecond pulses. Identifying the decoherence mechanism during the early non-equilibrium dynamics is crucial to achieve light-induced band-structure engineering in semiconductors. Here, we generate excitons in the direct band gap semiconductor black phosphorus with a resonant mid-infrared photoexcitation. Using time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we track their complex ultrafast dynamics on the few-picosecond time scale. We develop a quantum-kinetic theoretical framework to model the decoherence of excitons into dark excitons via phonon scattering. By combining simulation and experiment, we quantify key parameters describing the early dynamics of the excitons. Our work highlights phonon-mediated intravalley scattering as a fundamental limitation for coherent exciton phenomena in single-valley semiconductors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Suppression of stripe-ordered structural phases in monolayer IrTe$_2$ by a gold substrate

Metal-assisted exfoliation of two-dimensional (2D) materials has emerged as an efficient route to isolating large-area monolayer crystals, yet the influence of the supporting metal substrate on their intrinsic properties remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate successful gold-assisted exfoliation of monolayer IrTe$_2$ up to the millimeter scale. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), combined with first-principles calculations, reveals that the low-energy electronic structure closely resembles that of a freestanding monolayer 1T-IrTe$_2$. We find that quasi-covalent hybridization together with substrate-induced strain leads to only modest modifications of the electronic bands. Although strain contributes to phase stability, it is essentially hybridization that drives the stabilization of the 1T-phase of the monolayer IrTe$_2$ by suppressing stripe-ordered phase transitions. These results establish gold-assisted exfoliation as a robust route to prepare a large-area monolayer IrTe$_2$ and highlight the role of metal-substrate interaction in engineering 2D materials with tailored structural phases.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Hybridization in van der Waals epitaxy of PtSe2/h-BN and PtSe2/graphene heterostructures

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, which combine bi-dimensional materials of different properties, enable a range of quantum phenomena. Here, we present a comparative study between the electronic properties of mono- and bi-layer of platinum diselenide (PtSe2) grown on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphene substrates using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT), the electronic structure of PtSe2/graphene and PtSe2/h-BN vdW heterostructures are investigated in systematic manner. In contrast to PtSe2/h-BN, the electronic structure of PtSe2/graphene reveals the presence of interlayer hybridization between PtSe2 and the graphene, which is evidenced by minigap openings in the π-band of graphene. Furthermore, our measurements show that the valence band maximum (VBM) of monolayer PtSe2 is located at the Γ point with different binding energies of about -0.9 eV and -0.55 eV relative to the Fermi level on h-BN and graphene and substrates, respectively. Our results represent a significant advance in the understanding of electronic hybridization between TMDs and different substrates, and they reaffirm the crucial role of the substrate in any nanoelectronic applications based on van der Waals heterostructures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Mexican hat-like valence band dispersion and quantum confinement in rhombohedral ferroelectric alpha-In2Se3

Two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric (FE) materials offer a large variety of electronic properties depending on chemical composition, number of layers and stacking-order. Among them, alpha-In2Se3 has attracted much attention due to the promise of outstanding electronic properties, attractive quantum physics, in- and out-of-plane ferroelectricity and high photo-response. Precise experimental determination of the electronic structure of rhombohedral (3R) alpha-In2Se3 is needed for a better understanding of potential properties and device applications. Here, combining angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that 3R alpha-In2Se3 phase exhibits a robust inversion of the valence band parabolicity at the Gamma point forming a bow-shaped dispersion with a depth of 140 +- 10 meV between the valence band maximum (VBM) along the GammaK direction of the Brillouin zone (BZ). Moreover, we unveil an indirect band gap of about 1.25 eV, as well as a highly electron doping of approximatively 5.1012 electrons per cmsquare at the surface. This leads to surface band bending and the formation of a prominent electron accumulation layer. These findings allow a deeper understanding of the rhombohedral alpha-In2Se3 electronic properties underlying the potential of III/VI semiconductors for electronic and photonic technologies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Distinguishing different stackings in WSe2 bilayers grown Using Chemical Vapor Deposition

The stacking order of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is attracting tremendous interest as an essential component of van der Waals heterostructures. A common and fast approach to distinguish between the AAprime (2H) and AB (3R) configurations uses the relative edge orientation of each triangular layer (theta) from optical images. Here, we highlight that this method alone is not sufficient to fully identify the stacking order. Instead we propose a model and methodology to accurately determine the bilayer configuration of WSe2 using second harmonic generation (SHG) and Raman spectroscopy. We demonstrate that the SHG response of the AB phase (theta = 0) deg layers is more intense than the signal from the single layer structure. However, the SHG totally vanishes in the AAprime and ABprime phases (theta = 60 deg) and 0 deg respectively) of homo-bilayer WSe2. Also, several optical features of homo-bilayer WSe2 are found to depend on the details of the stacking order, with the difference being the clearest in the low frequency (LF) Raman frequencies, as confirmed by DFT simulation. This allows unambiguous, high-throughput, nondestructive identification of stacking order in TMDs, which is not robustly addressed in this emerging research area.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Reconfigurable Multifunctional van der Waals Ferroelectric Devices and Logic Circuits

In this work, we demonstrate the suitability of Reconfigurable Ferroelectric Field-Effect- Transistors (Re-FeFET) for designing non-volatile reconfigurable logic-in-memory circuits with multifunctional capabilities. Modulation of the energy landscape within a homojunction of a 2D tungsten diselenide (WSe$_2$) layer is achieved by independently controlling two split-gate electrodes made of a ferroelectric 2D copper indium thiophosphate (CuInP$_2$S$_6$) layer. Controlling the state encoded in the Program Gate enables switching between p, n and ambipolar FeFET operating modes. The transistors exhibit on-off ratios exceeding 10$^6$ and hysteresis windows of up to 10 V width. The homojunction can change from ohmic-like to diode behavior, with a large rectification ratio of 10$^4$. When programmed in the diode mode, the large built-in p-n junction electric field enables efficient separation of photogenerated carriers, making the device attractive for energy harvesting applications. The implementation of the Re-FeFET for reconfigurable logic functions shows how a circuit can be reconfigured to emulate either polymorphic ferroelectric NAND/AND logic-in-memory or electronic XNOR logic with long retention time exceeding 10$^4$ seconds. We also illustrate how a circuit design made of just two Re-FeFETs exhibits high logic expressivity with reconfigurability at runtime to implement several key non-volatile 2-input logic functions. Moreover, the Re-FeFET circuit demonstrates remarkable compactness, with an up to 80% reduction in transistor count compared to standard CMOS design. The 2D van de Waals Re-FeFET devices therefore exhibit groundbreaking potential for both More-than-Moore and beyond-Moore future of electronics, in particular for an energy-efficient implementation of in-memory computing and machine learning hardware, due to their multifunctionality and design compactness.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Quasi van der Waals Epitaxy of Rhombohedral-stacked Bilayer WSe2 on GaP(111) Heterostructure

The growth of bilayers of two-dimensional (2D) materials on conventional 3D semiconductors results in 2D/3D hybrid heterostructures, which can provide additional advantages over more established 3D semiconductors while retaining some specificities of 2D materials. Understanding and exploiting these phenomena hinge on knowing the electronic properties and the hybridization of these structures. Here, we demonstrate that rhombohedral-stacked bilayer (AB stacking) can be obtained by molecular beam epitaxy growth of tungsten diselenide (WSe2) on gallium phosphide (GaP) substrate. We confirm the presence of 3R-stacking of the WSe2 bilayer structure using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Also, we report high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on our rhombohedral-stacked WSe2 bilayer grown on GaP(111)B substrate. Our ARPES measurements confirm the expected valence band structure of WSe2 with the band maximum located at the gamma point of the Brillouin zone. The epitaxial growth of WSe2 on GaP(111)B heterostructures paves the way for further studies of the fundamental properties of these complex materials, as well as prospects for their implementation in devices to exploit their promising electronic and optical properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Intrinsic defects and mid-gap states in quasi-one-dimensional Indium Telluride

Recently, intriguing physical properties have been unraveled in anisotropic semiconductors, in which the in-plane electronic band structure anisotropy often originates from the low crystallographic symmetry. The atomic chain is the ultimate limit in material downscaling for electronics, a frontier for establishing an entirely new field of one-dimensional quantum materials. Electronic and structural properties of chain-like InTe are essential for better understanding of device applications such as thermoelectrics. Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to directly image the in-plane structural anisotropy in tetragonal Indium Telluride (InTe). As results, we report the direct observation of one-dimensional In1+ chains in InTe. We demonstrate that InTe exhibits a band gap of about 0.40 +-0.02 eV located at the M point of the Brillouin zone. Additionally, line defects are observed in our sample, were attributed to In1+ chain vacancy along the c-axis, a general feature in many other TlSe-like compounds. Our STS and DFT results prove that the presence of In1+ induces localized gap state, located near the valence band maximum (VBM). This acceptor state is responsible for the high intrinsic p-type doping of InTe that we also confirm using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Quantum Confinement and Electronic Structure at the Surface of van der Waals Ferroelectric α-In$_{2}$Se$_{3}$

Two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric (FE) materials are promising compounds for next-generation nonvolatile memories, due to their low energy consumption and high endurance. Among them, α-In$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ has drawn particular attention due to its in- and out-of-plane ferroelectricity, whose robustness has been demonstrated down to the monolayer limit. This is a relatively uncommon behavior since most bulk FE materials lose their ferroelectric character at the 2D limit due to depolarization field. Using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we unveil another unusual 2D phenomena appearing in 2H α-In$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ single crystals, the occurrence of a highly metallic two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the surface of vacuum-cleaved crystals. This 2DEG exhibits two confined states which correspond to an electron density of approximatively 10$^{13}$ electrons/cm$^{3}$, also confirmed by thermoelectric measurements. Combination of ARPES and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals a direct band gap of energy equal to 1.3 +/- 0.1 eV, with the bottom of the conduction band localized at the center of the Brillouin zone, just below the Fermi level. Such strong n-type doping further supports the quantum confinement of electrons and the formation of the 2DEG.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Evidence for Highly p-type doping and type II band alignment in large scale monolayer WSe2 /Se-terminated GaAs heterojunction grown by Molecular beam epitaxy

Two-dimensional materials (2D) arranged in hybrid van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures provide a route toward the assembly of 2D and conventional III-V semiconductors. Here, we report the structural and electronic properties of single layer WSe2 grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Se-terminated GaAs(111)B. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction images exhibit sharp streaky features indicative of a high-quality WSe2 layer produced via vdW epitaxy. This is confirmed by in-plane x-ray diffraction. The single layer of WSe2 and the absence of interdiffusion at the interface are confirmed by high resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission microscopy. Angle-resolved photoemission investigation revealed a well-defined WSe2 band dispersion and a high p-doping coming from the charge transfer between the WSe2 monolayer and the Se-terminated GaAs substrate. By comparing our results with local and hybrid functionals theoretical calculation, we find that the top of the valence band of the experimental heterostructure is close to the calculations for free standing single layer WSe2. Our experiments demonstrate that the proximity of the Se-terminated GaAs substrate can significantly tune the electronic properties of WSe2. The valence band maximum (VBM, located at the K point of the Brillouin zone) presents an upshifts of about 0.56 eV toward the Fermi level with respect to the VBM of WSe2 on graphene layer, which is indicative of high p-type doping and a key feature for applications in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗