Published August 5, 2024 | Version v1
Journal article

Two-dimensional electron gas on the surface of alkali-earth metal based electrides: Assistance to overcome tunneling barriers in ohmic contacts

  • 1. State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays and Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), School of Science, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
  • 2. Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices (MOE), and Department of Electronics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
  • 3. College of Physics Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002, China
  • 4. Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 211189, China

Description

van der Waals (vdW) stacking of two-dimensional (2D) metals and 2D semiconductors has attracted significant interest in metal-semiconductor junctions (MSJs). Unfortunately, the vdW gap always leads to large tunneling barriers even in ohmic contacts. Herein, by constructing 2D electrides possessing sufficient electron gas at the surface, the formation of quasibonds at MSJ interface is expected to overcome the challenge of contact resistance induced by vdW gap. Specifically, 2D Ca2XY2 (X=Ti,Zr,Hf; Y=N,P) electrides possess ultralow work functions ranging from 3.28 to 3.90 eV, accompanied by nearly free electrons on the surface, rendering them efficient electron donors. Taking typical 2D semiconductor MoS2 to contact Ca2XY2, the ohmic contact and complete tunneling effect can be achieved. Application of a modest bias voltage yields a noticeable current density of about 0.6µA/Å2. Moreover, these MSJs exhibit superior environmental stability with bromine terminated. Our work not only offers a series of promising 2D electrides, but also paves the way for advancing the progress of 2D electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.110.085406;
Crossref Funder ID
10.13039/501100002858;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review B
Journal Volume
110
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
10 pgs.
ISSN
1550-235X

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Optional Information

Copyright
©2024 American Physical Society
Contract/Grant/Project number
2022M711691
Notes
Contact Email: Contact author: ynwu@phy.ecnu.edu.cn; Contact Email: Contact author: liyt@njupt.edu.cn; Contact Email: Contact author: xhniu@njupt.edu.cn; Record automatically processed
Funding organization
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation