Developing optoelectronics in two-dimensional semiconductors

Atomically thin, two-dimensional semiconductors (2DS) show exceptionally strong light-matter interaction and opened thedoor to new ways of controlling electrical and optical properties through the valley degree of freedom, strain, or by creatingartificial stacks of 2D materials.

Optoelectronics has a clear roadmap towards not only broader band, faster and highersensitivity or brighter devices, but also devices with new functionalities.

The fast growth of industrial applications of 2DS inthe imminent future, where Europe is in an excellent starting position, risks being throttled by a lack of highly qualifiedresearchers and developers with specific experience in the field.

The 2EXCITING network blends together eight academicgroups that are amongst the key players in the 2DS field and eight companies with very diverse profiles, to train 15 EarlyStage Researchers in an unmatched combination of scientific and complementary skills.

Together, they will study thefundamental physics of the light-matter interaction in 2DSs, develop innovative optoelectronic devices such as excitonicswitches, strain-actuated optical modulators, or valleytronic switches, and develop strategies to artificially tailor theoptoelectronic properties of 2DS through electrostatic or chemical doping, strain engineering or the twisting angle of stackedlayers.

The network training programme, which comprises three winter schools and three satellite events to the “Flatlandsbeyond Graphene” conference series, provides scientific and industrial training to all researchers of the ETN, with activeparticipation of trainers from the involved non-academic partners, both on specific technology issues and on complementaryskills such as technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and public outreach.

All ESRs will spend intersectoral and internationalsecondments (be seconded from academia to industry or vice versa), most of them for six months duration.