2D Material Infrared Photonics and Plasmonics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photonics

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit diverse electrical, photonic, and chemical properties.
• These materials hold significant potential for advanced photonics and plasmonic devices.
• The infrared (IR) spectrum is crucial for industrial, military, commercial, and medical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the use of 2D materials for IR applications.
• To examine strategies for leveraging 2D material properties in the IR regime.
• To provide an outlook on challenges and future prospects for 2D material-based IR devices.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing various 2D materials (graphene, TMDs, black phosphorus, MXenes, semimetals).
• Analyzing strategies including material growth, processing, and heterostructure fabrication.
• Investigating light-matter interactions via nanophotonics, metasurfaces, and 2D polaritons.

Main Results:

• 2D materials enable diverse IR applications: photodetection, sensing, light emission, modulation, plasmonics, and non-linear optics.
• Strategies involve material selection (semiconductors, semimetals, Weyl-semimetals), heterostructures, and engineered light-matter interactions.
• Successful application in areas like Smith-Purcell radiation is discussed.

Conclusions:

• 2D materials offer a versatile platform for developing advanced IR technologies.
• Overcoming challenges in device performance and stability is key for future research.
• Significant prospects exist for large-scale commercial applications of 2D material-based IR devices.