Summary:
UCLA researchers in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have developed a method to control electron density in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) thin films that can be used to improve optical material characteristics.
Background:
Second harmonic generation (SHG) is an optical process in which light interacts with a nonlinear material to generate waves with twice the frequency of the initial radiation. This technique is utilized in various applications, including optical microscopy and material characterization. The advancement of SHG methods depends on discovering and fabricating new materials with large second-order non-linear optical (NLO) susceptibility. Current NLO have several drawbacks, which limits practical applications. There remains an unmet need for an efficient and scalable method of second harmonic generation.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science have developed a scalable bulk monolayer molybdenum disulfide (BM-MoS2) thin film for highly efficient SHG . This technique involves the development of a solution-processible thin film, which enhances SHG efficiency compared to existing monolayers. This technology is also scalable due to the solution processibility of the material, using simple techniques such as spin- and spray-coating. This stable and efficient advancement provides a solution to the critical challenge in scalable fabrication of anatomically thin 2D materials. The stability of this technology is enhanced due to the presence of organic spacers between the monolayers. Integration of this novel thin film can be advantageous for next generation optical materials, including resonators, 2D photonic crystals, meta-surfaces, lenses, and fibers.
Potential Applications:
- Frequency conversion
- Optical microscopy
- Material surface characterization
- Photonic devices
- Nonlinear optics
- Quantum technologies
Advantages:
- Enhanced efficiency
- Increased scalability
- Improved stability
- Integrability with diverse photonic platforms
Development To Date:
First successful demonstration of technology is complete as of November 2023.
Publication:
A chemical-dedoping strategy to tailor electron density in molecular-intercalated bulk monolayer MoS2
Giant second harmonic generation in bulk monolayer MoS2 thin films
Related Technology:
A Chemical-Dedoping Strategy to Tailor Electron Density in Molecular-Intercalated Bulk Monolayer MOS2 (Case No. 2024-022)
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2024-186