Complex Optical Conductivity of Two-Dimensional MoS₂: A Striking Layer Dependency

The complex optical conductivities of two-dimensaionl (2D) materials are fundamental for extended applications of related optoelectronic devices. Here, we systematically investigate the layer-dependent evolutions in the complex optical conductivities of 1-6 layer 2D MoS₂ over an ultrawide spectral range (0.73-6.42 eV) by spectroscopic ellipsometry. We identify five feature peaks (A-E) in the optical conductivity spectra, which present interesting layer dependencies due to the scaling effect. Results suggest that the center energies of peaks A and B are nearly layer-independent, while those of peaks C and D exhibit redshifts as the layer increases. We interpret these layer-dependent evolutions as the competition between the decreasing exciton effect and the prominent band shrinkage with the increasing layer number. Additionally, the applicability of the classical slab model and the surface current model in evaluating the optical conductivities of 2D MoS₂ with different layers is discussed from an experimental perspective.