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Interfacial Mirror Symmetry Breaking Induced Helicity-Dependent Photocurrents in hBN/CrPS4 Heterostructure
Shanqing Li1,2, Xiuhua Xie2,3, Xueyan Cui1
1School of Electronic Science and Engineering (School of Microelectronics), Guangdong Province Key Lab of Chip and Integration Technology, South China Normal University, Foshan 528225, P.R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 21, 2025
Summary
This study reveals that breaking mirror symmetry at interfaces in magnetic heterostructures, like hBN/CrPS4, induces a circular photogalvanic effect. This highlights interface symmetry
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Research on quantum geometric effects in antiferromagnetic van der Waals heterostructures often focuses on Parity-Time (PT) symmetry.
- The role of interfacial symmetry breaking, especially parity inversion symmetry, is less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of interfacial symmetry breaking on quantum geometric effects.
- To explore the hBN/CrPS4 heterojunction and control its interface mirror symmetry.
Main Methods:
- Systematic control of mirror symmetry at the hBN/CrPS4 interface.
- Helicity-dependent photocurrent measurements.
- Symmetry analysis of observed photocurrents.
Main Results:
- A significant circular photogalvanic effect was induced by breaking mirror symmetry.
- The observed helicity-dependent photocurrent difference is attributed to a Berry curvature dipole.
- This dipole is directly linked to the broken mirror symmetry at the interface.
Conclusions:
- Interface symmetry breaking is crucial for inducing quantum geometric effects in magnetic heterostructures.
- This work establishes a novel strategy for manipulating interface PT symmetry.
- The findings advance the understanding of Berry curvature and quantum metric interplay.
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