2D Electron System Research Articles

Dimensionally Extending from 1D MX-Chain to Ladder and Nanotube Systems: Structural and Electronic Properties.

Molecular one-dimensional (1D) electron systems have attracted much attention due to their unique electronic state, physical and chemical properties derived from high-aspect-ratio structures. Among 1D materials, mixed-valence halogen-bridged transition-metal chain complexes (MX-chains) based on coordination assemblies are currently of particular interest because their electronic properties, such as mixed-valence state and band gap, can be controlled by substituting components and varying configurations. In particular, chemistry has recently noted that dimensionally extending MX-chains through organic rung ligands can introduce and modulate electronic coupling of metal atoms between chains, i. e., interchain interactions. In this review, for the first time, we highlight the recent progress on MX systems from the viewpoint of dimensionally extending from 1D chain to ladder and nanotube, mainly involving structural design and electronic properties. Overall, dimensional extension can not only tune the electronic properties of MX-chain, but also build the unique platform for studying transport dynamics in confined space, such as proton conduction. Based on these features, we envision that the MX-chain systems provide valuable insights into deep understanding of 1D electron systems, as well as the potential applications such as nanoelectronics.

Dirac-Like Fermions Anomalous Magneto-Transport in a Spin-Polarized Oxide 2D Electron System.

In a 2D electron system (2DES) the breaking of the inversion, time-reversal and bulk crystal-field symmetries is interlaced with the effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) triggering exotic quantum phenomena. Here, epitaxial engineering is used to design and realize a 2DES characterized simultaneously by ferromagnetic order, large Rashba SOC and hexagonal band warping at the (111) interfaces between LaAlO3, EuTiO3, and SrTiO3 insulators. The 2DES displays anomalous quantum corrections to the magneto-conductance driven by the time-reversal-symmetry breaking occurring below the magnetic transition temperature. The results are explained by the emergence of a non-trivial Berry phase and competing weak anti-localization/weak localization back-scattering of Dirac-like fermions, mimicking the phenomenology of gapped topological insulators. These findings open perspectives for the engineering of novel spin-polarized functional 2DES holding promises in spin-orbitronics and topologicalelectronics.

Breaking Surface-Plasmon Excitation Constraint via Surface Spin Waves.

Surface plasmons in two-dimensional (2D) electron systems have attracted great attention for their promising light-matter applications. However, the excitation of a surface plasmon, in particular, transverse-electric (TE) surface plasmon, remains an outstanding challenge due to the difficulty to conserve energy and momentum simultaneously in the normal 2D materials. Here we show that the TE surface plasmons ranging from gigahertz to terahertz regime can be effectively excited and manipulated in a hybrid dielectric, 2D material, and magnet structure. The essential physics is that the surface spin wave supplements an additional freedom of surface plasmon excitation and thus greatly enhances the electric field in the 2D medium. Based on widely used magnetic materials like yttrium iron garnet and manganese difluoride, we further show that the plasmon excitation manifests itself as a measurable dip in the reflection spectrum of the hybrid system while the dip position and the dip depth can be well controlled by an electric gating on the 2D layer and an external magnetic field. Our findings should bridge the fields of low-dimensional physics, plasmonics, and spintronics and open a novel route to integrate plasmonic and spintronic devices.

Triple-top-gate technique for studying the strongly interacting 2D electron systems in heterostructures

We have developed a technique that dramatically reduces the contact resistances and depletes a shunting channel between the contacts outside the Hall bar in ultra-high mobility SiGe/Si/SiGe heterostructures. It involves the creation of three overlapping independent gates deposited on top of the structure and allows transport measurements to be performed at millikelvin temperatures in the strongly interacting limit at low electron densities, where the energy of the electron–electron interactions dominates all other energy scales. This design allows one to observe the two-threshold voltage–current characteristics that are a signature for the collective depinning and sliding of the electron solid.

Explanation of puzzling FQHE at the filling fraction 3/4 in a band-hole 2D system in GaAs

A recent experiment revealed an unexpected FQHE at filling fraction 3/4 in a GaAs 2D hole system, which contradicts the composite fermion model prediction and the observation of a compressible Hall metal-type state in a twin 2D electron system in GaAs at the same filling fraction 3/4 at almost same other conditions. This finding challenges conventional effective single-quasiparticle model for FQHE exposing its limitations. We explain this experimental observation within a multiparticle approach based on a topological cyclotron commensurability criterion. This allows to generalize Laughlin function for filling fractions from the complete FQHE hierarchy including observable FQHE states at even denominator fractions. The topological multiparticle approach helps to decipher a structure of composite fermions and provides their generalization for so-called enigmatic states including even denominator filling fractions, and also for quantum fractional Hall-type behavior in Chern topological insulators without a magnetic field.

Enhanced 3D electrochemical degradation of acrylonitrile with Fe-Cu@CB nanoparticles via the hydrogenation-oxidation synergistic processes

Acrylonitrile is a highly toxic and hazardous pollutant present in industrial wastewater at high concentrations, posing significant environmental and health risks. There is an urgent need for efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly treatment methods for acrylonitrile. The electron-withdrawing –CN group in acrylonitrile offers potential pathways for degradation via superoxide radicals (O2•-), but this approach remains underexplored with limited research efforts. To investigate the degradation mechanism of acrylonitrile by O2•-, we synthesized particle electrodes Fe-Cu@CB using a novel one-step co-hydrolysis method and applied them for the 3D electrochemical degradation of acrylonitrile. Batch experiments showed that acrylonitrile with an initial concentration of 100 mg·L−1 was removed by 95 % at a voltage of 2.73 V (vs. RHE) for one hour. Compared with 2D electrochemical degradation, 3D electrochemical degradation of acrylonitrile increased the removal rate from 57 % to 95 %, and the TOC removal rate was also enhanced from 23.59 % to 88.33 %. Additionally, the energy consumed by this system was remarkably lower than the reported 3D electronic reaction system. Based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), oxygen species (ROS) quenching experiments, and GC–MS results, we proposed a new hydrogenation-oxidation synergistic pathway for acrylonitrile removal, which could be depicted as that acrylonitrile suffered hydrogenation, followed by O2•- reduction, and finally the intermediate products were degraded speedily. Other pollutants in acrylonitrile wastewater such as acrylic acid, acrylamide, and fumaronitrile could also be eliminated in this reaction system, and the degradation efficiency varied with the electronic structure of the pollutants. These findings offer new insights into the treatment of acrylonitrile wastewater and present a highly efficient, sustainable solution for industrial pollutant degradation.

Electron Transport over 2D Molecular Materials and Assemblies.

ConspectusTwo-dimensional (2D) molecular materials, in which the major interactions are confined in 2D planes with contrasted force fields acting in between the planes, have been key electronic functional materials since the past decade. Even without referring to the functionals of graphene-based systems, 2D electronic conjugated systems are expected to show extrawide dynamic ranges in electronic density of states (DOS) tuning, effective electron mass, electron mobility, and conductivity. A major advantage of 2D electronic systems is their compatibility with the ubiquitous electronic devices designed using planar structures, such as transistors and memories, which is associated with the utility of 2D active materials. The mobility of electrons in 2D systems is the key to their utility, and various conjugated molecular and 2D materials have been designed to optimize the mobility. This Account begins with an introduction for mobility assessment: using noncontact time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements as a technique to probe differential conductivity upon transient charge carrier injection into the materials. Electronic transport over 2D electronic materials such as graphenes, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is discussed with a special emphasis on molecular building blocks, fine-tuning conducting species and linkages, topology of the framework, and controlling molecular doping. The superiority of β-ketoenamine-linked COF over imine-linked COF films in charge transport and dominant in-plane charge carrier mobility over out-of-plane mobility is also illustrated. Systematic molecular engineering of the building blocks of β-ketoenamine-linked COFs with varying degrees of donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugation, torsional angles, and reaction conditions resulted in the modulation of the efficiency of charge carrier generation/transport as well as exciton migration. The advantages of 2D systems are finally discussed in terms of the mobility interplaying with spatial arrangements of molecules as well as the substantial role of intermolecular interactions in stabilizing their condensed phases. The strong correlation between the dispersion of mobility and hierarchical intermolecular interactions sheds light on the way to overcome structural fluctuation on the optimization of charge transport in molecular electronic materials. The point of singularity in the dispersion at an intermolecular distance of d ∼ 0.3 nm is deduced from the overall mobility assessment in condensed phases of conjugated molecules, suggesting key roles of intermolecular electronic coupling: the new concept of electronic conjugation. Exceptional electronic coupling with relatively high charge carrier mobility was also observed, particularly in 2D spatial arrangements of chiral molecules in contrast to 3D analogues, where the reduction of gravitational density of the molecular condensates was impacting DOS: the Wallach's rule. 2D electronic systems are strong candidates for the violation of the long-lasting Wallach's rule in terms of DOS.

The Impact of a Strong Electromagnetic Wave on the Quantum Hall Effect in Cylindrical Quantum Wires

The impact of strong electromagnetic waves Hall effect is studied theoretically in a Cylindrical Quantum Wire (CQW) with infinitely high potential inside the wire and elsewhere subjected to a dc electric field , a magnetic field and a laser radiation . By using the quantum kinetic equation method for electrons interacting with Acoustic Phonon (AP) at low temperatures, we obtain analytical expressions for the conductivity tensor and the Hall Coefficient (HC), which are different from in comparison to those obtained for a rectangular quantum wire (RQW) or two-dimensional (2D) electron systems. Numerical calculations are also applied for GaAs/GaAsAl CQW to show the nonlinear dependence of the HC on the electromagnetic wave (EMW) frequency, and the radius, the length characteristic parameters of CQW. Wave function and energy spectrum in a CQW are dissiminar to those in Quantum Wires (QWs). Therefore, all numerical results are different from those in the case of QWs. The most important result is that the HC reaches saturation as the radius, the length of CQW or the EMW frequency increases.

Electron-electron attraction via Coulomb correlations and possible superconductivity in a 1D electron liquid on a rigid neutralizing background

Conditions at which a quasi-one-dimensional (1D) electron system can be considered as a quantum liquid of impenetrable charged particles are theoretically analyzed. In the presence of an inert, neutralizing background, a motion of impenetrable electrons is shown to expose a positive charge, resulting in an effective mutual attraction of infinite range. As a result, all electrons are involved in the long-range pairing. A model of spinless fermions with infinitesimal attraction of infinite range is proposed to describe the excitation spectrum and the superconducting gap in low-density 1D electron channels. In contrast with the conventional theory, the energy gap does not contain exponentially small factors. It depends mostly on the Coulombic parameters of the system, which guides practical aspects of high-temperature superconductivity.

Quantum scaling for the metal–insulator transition in a two-dimensional electron system

The quantum phase transition observed experimentally in two-dimensional (2D) electron systems has been a subject of theoretical and experimental studies for almost 30 years. We suggest Gaussian approximation to the mean-field theory of the second-order phase transition to explain the experimental data. Our approach explains self-consistently the universal value of the critical exponent 3/2 (found after scaling measured resistivities on both sides of the transition as a function of temperature) as the result of the divergence of the correlation length when the electron density approaches the critical value. We also provide numerical evidence for the stretched exponential temperature dependence of the metallic phase’s resistivities in a wide range of temperatures and show that it leads to correct qualitative results. Finally, we interpret the phase diagram on the density-temperature plane exhibiting the quantum critical point, quantum critical trajectory and two crossover lines. Our research presents a theoretical description of the seminal experimental results.

High-Frequency Hall Effect and Transverse Electric Galvanomagnetic Waves in Current-Biased 2D Electron Systems

We derive the electrodynamic conductivity tensor for 2DESs with dc drift with account for the high-frequency Hall effect (interaction of dc current with ac magnetic field). We demonstrate the limitations of the quasistatic approach which neglects this effect. With the help of electrodynamic conductivity we find a novel two-dimensional transverse electric (TE) electromagnetic mode. This mode is non-reciprocal with dispersion \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\omega = {\\mathbf{k}}{{{\\mathbf{u}}}_{0}}$$\\end{document} and manifests itself in lowering the reflection coefficient of 2DES at the resonance frequency. In addition, we predict birefringence of an incident evanescent TE wave on a 2DES system with drift and find hints of Cerenkov amplification in the low frequency limit. We discuss the limiting cases when the quasistatic approach is suitable.

Observation of 3D acoustic quantum Hall states

Quantum Hall effect, the quantized transport phenomenon of electrons under strong magnetic fields, remains one of the hottest research topics in condensed matter physics since its discovery in 2D electronic systems. Recently, as a great advance in the research of quantum Hall effects, the quantum Hall effect in 3D systems, despite its big challenge, has been achieved in the bulk ZrTe5 and Cd3As2 materials. Interestingly, Cd3As2 is a Weyl semimetal, and quantum Hall effect is hosted by the Fermi arc states on opposite surfaces via the Weyl nodes of the bulk, and induced by the unique edge states on the boundaries of the opposite surfaces. However, such intriguing edge state distribution has not yet been experimentally observed. Here, we aim to reveal experimentally the unusual edge states of Fermi arcs in acoustic Weyl system with the aid of pseudo-magnetic field. Benefiting from the macroscopic nature of acoustic crystals, the pseudo-magnetic field is introduced by elaborately designed the gradient on-site energy, and the edge states of Fermi arcs on the boundaries of the opposite surfaces are unambiguously demonstrated in experiments. Our system serves as an ideal and highly tunable platform to explore the Hall physics in 3D system, and has the potential in the application of new acoustic devices.

Tunable 2D Electron- and 2D Hole States Observed at Fe/SrTiO3 Interfaces.

Oxide electronics provide the key concepts and materials for enhancing silicon-based semiconductor technologies with novel functionalities. However, a basic but key property of semiconductor devices still needs to be unveiled in its oxidic counterparts: the ability to set or even switch between two types of carriers-either negatively (n) charged electrons or positively (p) charged holes. Here, direct evidence for individually emerging n- or p-type 2D band dispersions in STO-based heterostructures is provided using resonant photoelectron spectroscopy. The key to tuning the carrier character is the oxidation state of an adjacent Fe-based interface layer: For Fe and FeO, hole bands emerge in the empty bandgap region of STO due to hybridization of Ti- and Fe- derived states across the interface, while for Fe3O4 overlayers, an 2D electron system is formed. Unexpected oxygen vacancy characteristics arise for the hole-type interfaces, which as of yet hadbeen exclusively assigned to the emergence of 2DESs. In general, this finding opens up the possibility to straightforwardly switch the type of conductivity at STO interfaces by the oxidation state of a redox overlayer. This will extend the spectrum of phenomena in oxide electronics, including the realization of combined n/p-type all-oxide transistors or logicgates.

Quantized conductance in hybrid split-gate arrays of superconducting quantum point contacts with semiconducting two-dimensional electron systems

A quantum point contact (QPC)—a constriction in a semiconducting two-dimensional electron system with a quantized conductance—is a building block of novel spintronic and topological electronic circuits. QPCs can also be used as readout electronics, charge sensors, or switches in quantum nanocircuits. A short and impurity-free constriction with superconducting contacts is a Cooper-pair QPC analogue known as a superconducting quantum point contact (SQPC). The technological development of such quantum devices has been prolonged due to the challenges of maintaining their geometrical requirement and near-unity superconductor-semiconductor interface transparency. Here, we develop advanced nanofabrication, material and device engineering techniques and report on an innovative realization of nanoscale hybrid SQPC arrays with split gate technology in semiconducting 2D electron systems. We exploit the special gate tunability of the quantum wells, and demonstrate the first experimental observation of conductance quantization in hybrid InGaAs-Nb SQPCs. We observe reproducible quantized conductance at zero magnetic fields in multiple quantum nanodevices fabricated in a single chip and systematically investigate the quantum transport of SQPCs at low and high magnetic fields for their potential applications in quantum metrology, for extremely accurate voltage standards, and fault-tolerant quantum technologies. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Selective Damping of Plasmons in Coupled Two-Dimensional Systems by Coulomb Drag

The Coulomb drag is a many-body effect observed in proximized low-dimensional systems. It appears as emergence of voltage in one of them upon passage of bias current in another. The magnitude of drag voltage can be strongly affected by exchange of plasmonic excitations between the layers; however, the reverse effect of Coulomb drag on properties of plasmons has not been studied. Here, we study the plasmon spectra and damping in parallel two-dimensional systems in the presence of Coulomb drag. We find that Coulomb drag leads to selective damping of one of the two fundamental plasma modes of a coupled bilayer. For identical electron doping of both layers, the drag suppresses the acoustic plasma mode; while for symmetric electron-hole doping of the coupled pair, the drag suppresses the optical plasma mode. The selective damping can be observed both for propagating modes in extended bilayers and for localized plasmons in bilayers confined by source and drain contacts. The discussed effect may provide access to the strength of Coulomb interaction in 2d electron systems from various optical and microwave scattering experiments.

Hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equations in two-dimensional systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling

We study a two-dimensional (2D) electron system with a linear spectrum in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit (RSO) coupling in the hydrodynamic regime. We derive a semiclassical Boltzmann equation with a collision integral due to Coulomb interactions on the basis of the eigenstates of the system with RSO coupling. Using the local equilibrium distribution functions, we obtain a generalized hydrodynamic Navier–Stokes equation for electronic systems with RSO coupling. In particular, we discuss the influence of the spin-orbit coupling on the viscosity and the enthalpy of the system and present some of its observable effects in hydrodynamic transport.

Water-Responsive 3D Electronics for Smart Biological Interfaces.

Three-dimensional (3D) electronic systems with their potential for enhanced functionalities often require complex fabrication processes. This paper presents a water-based, stimuli-responsive approach for creating self-assembled 3D electronic systems, particularly suited for biorelated applications. We utilize laser scribing to programmatically shape a water-responsive bilayer, resulting in smart 3D electronic substrates. Control over the deformation direction, actuation time, and surface curvature of rolling structures is achieved by adjusting laser-scribing parameters, as validated through experiments and numerical simulations. Additionally, self-locking structures maintain the integrity of the 3D systems. This methodology enables the implementation of spiral twining electrodes for electrophysiological signal monitoring in plants. Furthermore, the integration of self-rolling electrodes onto peripheral nerves in a rodent model allows for stimulation and recording of in vivo neural activities with excellent biocompatibility. These innovations provide viable paths to next-generation 3D biointegrated electronic systems for life science studies and medical applications.

Equilibrium properties of 2D electron systems in quantum wells and graphene

Equilibrium properties of 2D electron systems in quantum wells and graphene

Investigating the magneto-transport and thermal properties of 2D electron systems under the influence of the Aharonov–Bohm field and Eckart potential interaction

The Eckart potential is a well-known potential model with applications cutting across chemical physics and related areas. It is often used to evaluate quantum mechanical tunneling corrections in order to obtain chemical rate constants. To this end, this study focused on extensively examining the effects of perturbations on the magnetic and thermal properties of the Eckart potential. In the presence of magnetic and Aharonov–Bohm fields with Eckart potential, the Schrödinger equation is solved using the functional analysis approach (FAA). The energy equation and wave function are obtained analytically. The energy equation is used to derive expressions for the thermo-magnetic properties of the Eckart potential. An extensive analysis of the effect of these fields and potential parameters on the wave function is presented. In several configurations of the analysis, we observe that the system exhibits a diamagnetic behavior,and the specific heat capacity agree with the Dulong–Petit law. The results of this study are valuable in areas such as molecular physics and condensed matter physics, amongst others.

Spin independence of the strongly enhanced effective mass in ultra-clean SiGe/Si/SiGe two-dimensional electron system

The effective mass at the Fermi level is measured in the strongly interacting two-dimensional (2D) electron system in ultra-clean SiGe/Si/SiGe quantum wells in the low-temperature limit in tilted magnetic fields. At low electron densities, the effective mass is found to be strongly enhanced and independent of the degree of spin polarization, which indicates that the mass enhancement is not related to the electrons’ spins. The observed effect turns out to be universal for silicon-based 2D electron systems, regardless of random potential, and cannot be explained by existing theories.