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Coupling of electronic transition to ferroelectric order in a 2D semiconductor

Author

Listed:
  • Chun-Ying Huang

    (Columbia University)

  • Daniel G. Chica

    (Columbia University)

  • Zhi-Hao Cui

    (Columbia University)

  • Taketo Handa

    (Columbia University)

  • Morgan Thinel

    (Columbia University
    Columbia University)

  • Nicholas Olsen

    (Columbia University)

  • Yufeng Liu

    (Columbia University)

  • Michael E. Ziebel

    (Columbia University)

  • Guiying He

    (City University of New York
    City University of New York)

  • Yinming Shao

    (Columbia University
    Pennsylvania State University)

  • Connor A. Occhialini

    (Columbia University
    Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Jonathan Pelliciari

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Dmitri N. Basov

    (Columbia University)

  • Matthew Sfeir

    (City University of New York
    City University of New York)

  • Abhay Pasupathy

    (Columbia University)

  • Valentina Bisogni

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • David R. Reichman

    (Columbia University)

  • Xavier Roy

    (Columbia University)

  • Xiaoyang Zhu

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

A ferroelectric material often exhibits a soft transverse optical (TO) phonon mode which governs its phase transition. Charge coupling to this ferroelectric soft mode may further mediate emergent physical properties, including superconductivity and defect tolerance in semiconductors. However, direct experimental evidence for such coupling is scarce. Here we show that a photogenerated coherent phonon couples strongly to the electronic transition above the bandgap in the van der Waals (vdW) two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric semiconductor NbOI2. Using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, we identify this mode as the TO phonon responsible for ferroelectric order. This exclusive coupling occurs only with the above-gap electronic transition and is absent in the valence band as revealed by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. Our findings suggest a new role of the soft TO phonon mode in electronic and optical properties of ferroelectric semiconductors.

Suggested Citation

  • Chun-Ying Huang & Daniel G. Chica & Zhi-Hao Cui & Taketo Handa & Morgan Thinel & Nicholas Olsen & Yufeng Liu & Michael E. Ziebel & Guiying He & Yinming Shao & Connor A. Occhialini & Jonathan Pelliciar, 2025. "Coupling of electronic transition to ferroelectric order in a 2D semiconductor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57061-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57061-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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