Strain-optoelectronic coupling properties of externally deformed nanoribbons with embedded quantum well

Abstract

Strain-engineering provides a critical mechanism for tuning the band structure of quantum wells (QWs). However, due to the inherent rigidity of the semiconductor materials, the strain induced by lattice-mismatch is restricted to be invariable, uniform, thus cannot be subject to direct mechanical loading processes. Therefore, the flexible nanoribbons (NRs) in a variety of configurations offer entirely new research perspectives in modulation of the optoelectronic characteristic of QWs by curvature-induced inhomogeneous strain. In this paper, we propose a strategy to fabricate the QW layer embedded in uniaxially wavy NRs. To thoroughly figure out the internal strain-optoelectronic coupling mechanism, we establish a simple and accurate calculation model for externally deformed QW NRs using the eight-band k·p perturbation method for the first time. Luttinger-Kohn-Pikus-Bir Hamiltonian (LKPBH) for strained semiconductor is adopted and solved by finite-difference method (FDM). Theoretical calculations reveal inclined band edges, which result in the quantum-confined stark effect (QCSE) in the bended QW NRs. Continuously and periodically varied band gap of the wavy QW is revealed with a blue-shift from peak to valley of the sample NR, which agrees well with the μ-photoluminescence measurements. Further adjustments of the external configuration are explored to study the impact of the larger deformed structure on the curvature and band gap of the wavy QW within the confinement of the fracture limit.