Moiré ferroelectricity modulates light emission from a semiconductor monolayer.

Kim, Dong Seob; Xiao, Chengxin; Dominguez, Roy C; Liu, Zhida; Abudayyeh, Hamza; Lee, Kyoungpyo; Mayorga-Luna, Rigo; Kim, Hyunsue et al. · Sci Adv · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Semiconductor moiré superlattices, characterized by their periodic spatial light emission, unveil a new paradigm of engineered photonic materials. Here, we show that ferroelectric moiré domains formed in a twisted hexagonal boron nitride (t-hBN) substrate can modulate light emission from an adjacent semiconductor MoSe<sub>2</sub> monolayer. The electrostatic potential at the surface of the t-hBN substrate provides a simple way to confine excitons in the MoSe<sub>2</sub> monolayer. The excitons confined within the domains and at the domain walls are spectrally separated because of a pronounced Stark shift. Moreover, the patterned light emission can be dynamically controlled by electrically gating the ferroelectric domains, introducing a functionality beyond other semiconductor moiré superlattices. Our findings chart an exciting pathway for integrating nanometer-scale moiré ferroelectric domains with various optically active functional layers, paving the way for advanced nanophotonics and metasurfaces.