Exploring Optoelectronic Properties of Twisted and Intercalated Niobium Oxide Dihalides

Abstract

2D materials, or layers of one-atom thick crystalline solids, offer a flexible solution for a variety of applications that require certain characteristics. As a result of modifications in physical and chemical design involving 2D materials such as stacking, twisting and ion intercalation, properties such as electrical conductivity, spin diffusion length, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength observe more degrees of freedom than in their bulk material counterpart. Currently, small optical systems comprise of passive devices that are rigid in their light pathing design and require modulators to control light post-fabrication for use. These systems are confined by the material used to fabricate the device and their associated effective indices, which are determined pre-fabrication by the ultimate desired optical effect. However, 2D materials can exhibit tunable band structures that yield the optimal optical response, even post-fabrication. This thesis will discuss the properties of mechanically and chemically manipulated niobium oxydichloride (NbOCl₂) and niobium oxydiiodide (NbOI₂) ultrathin structures that have the potential to integrate into flexible optical systems.