Twist-Angle-Dependent Optoelectronics in a Few-Layer Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Heterostructure

Lattice matching has been supposed to play an important role in the coupling between two materials in a vertical heterostructure (HS). To investigate this role, we fabricated a heterojunction device with a few layers of p-type WSe₂ and n-type MoSe₂ with different crystal orientation angles. The crystal orientations of WSe₂ and MoSe₂ were estimated using high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Heterojunction devices were fabricated with twist angles of 0, 15, and 30°. The I- V curve of the sample with the twist angle of 0° under the dark condition showed a diodelike behavior. The strong coupling due to lattice matching caused a well-established p-n junction. In cases of 15 and 30° samples, the van der Waals gap was built because of lattice mismatching, which resulted in the formation of a potential barrier. However, when the light-emitting diode light of 365 nm (3.4 eV) was illuminated, it was possible for excited electrons and holes to jump beyond the potential barrier and the current flowed well in both forward and reverse directions. The effects of the twist angle were analyzed by spectral responsivity and external quantum efficiency, where it was found that the untwisted HS exhibited higher sensitivity under IR illumination, whereas the twisting effect was not noticeable under UV illumination. From photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy studies, it was confirmed that the twisted HS showed a weak coupling because of the lattice mismatch.