Tunable electronic properties and optoelectronic characteristics of MoGe₂N₄/SiC van der Waals heterostructure

The assembly of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure with easily regulated electronic properties provides a new way for the expansion of two-dimensional materials and promotes the development of optoelectronics, sensors, switching devices and other fields. In this work, a systematic investigation of the electronic properties of MoGe₂N₄/SiC heterostructures using density functional theory has been conducted, along with the modulation of electronic properties by vertical strain and the potential application prospects in optoelectronic devices. The results show that MoGe₂N₄/SiC heterostructure has excellent dynamic and thermal stability and belongs to type-II band alignment semiconductors. This is extremely beneficial for the separation of photo-generating electron-hole pairs, so it has important significance for the development of photovoltaic materials. In addition, under the control of vertical strain, the semiconductor-metal transition occurs in the MoGe₂N₄/SiC heterostructure when the compressive strain reaches 6%. In the case of compressive strain less than 6% and tensile strain, the MoGe₂N₄/SiC heterostructure maintains the type-II band alignment semiconductor characteristics. Meanwhile, we find that the MoGe₂N₄/SiC heterostructure has optical absorption coefficients of up to 10⁵in the visible and ultraviolet light ranges, which can improve the absorption coefficients of the MoGe₂N₄and SiC monolayer in some visible light regions. Finally, the optical conductivity of the MoGe₂N₄/SiC heterostructure exhibits significant anisotropy, with the armchair direction displaying higher conductivity within the orange light range. In conclusion, the formation of vdW heterostructure by vertically stacking MoGe₂N₄and SiC monolayers can effectively improve their electronic and optical properties, which provides a valuable reference for the future development of electronic devices and photovoltaic materials.