Simultaneous Optical Tuning of Hole and Electron Transport in Ambipolar WSe<sub>2</sub> Interfaced with a Bicomponent Photochromic Layer: From High-Mobility Transistors to Flexible Multilevel Memories.

Qiu, Haixin; Liu, Zhaoyang; Yao, Yifan; Herder, Martin; Hecht, Stefan; Samorì, Paolo · Adv Mater · 2020

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

The interfacing of 2D materials (2DMs) with photochromic molecules provides an efficient solution to reversibly modulate their outstanding electronic properties and offers a versatile platform for the development of multifunctional field-effect transistors (FETs). Herein, optically switchable multilevel high-mobility FETs based on few-layer ambipolar WSe<sub>2</sub> are realized by applying on its surface a suitably designed bicomponent diarylethene (DAE) blend, in which both hole and electron transport can be simultaneously modulated for over 20 cycles. The high output current modulation efficiency (97% for holes and 52% for electrons) ensures 128 distinct current levels, corresponding to a data storage capacity of 7 bit. The device is also implemented on a flexible and transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate, rendering 2DM/DAE hybrid structures promising candidates for flexible multilevel nonvolatile memories.