Van der Waals Heterostructures for High‐Performance Device Applications: Challenges and Opportunities

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 32; no. 27; pp. e1903800 - n/a
• Main Authors: Liang, Shi‐Jun, Cheng, Bin, Cui, Xinyi, Miao, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2020
• Subjects: 2D materials; Condensed matter physics; Electronic devices; Heterostructures; Infrared filters; Magnetic properties; Optical properties; Optoelectronic devices; photodetectors; Photometers; Semiconductor devices; spintronic devices; Transistors; Two dimensional materials; van der Waals heterostructures; vertical transistors; vertical transistors; photodetectors; van der Waals heterostructures; spintronic devices; 2D materials
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201903800

The discovery of two‐dimensional (2D) materials with unique electronic, superior optoelectronic, or intrinsic magnetic order has triggered worldwide interest in the fields of material science, condensed matter physics, and device physics. Vertically stacking 2D materials with distinct electronic and optical as well as magnetic properties enables the creation of a large variety of van der Waals heterostructures. The diverse properties of the vertical heterostructures open unprecedented opportunities for various kinds of device applications, e.g., vertical field‐effect transistors, ultrasensitive infrared photodetectors, spin‐filtering devices, and so on, which are inaccessible in conventional material heterostructures. Here, the current status of vertical heterostructure device applications in vertical transistors, infrared photodetectors, and spintronic memory/transistors is reviewed. The relevant challenges for achieving high‐performance devices are presented. An outlook into the future development of vertical heterostructure devices with integrated electronic and optoelectronic as well as spintronic functionalities is also provided.
The diverse properties of van der Waals heterostructures open unprecedented opportunities for various types of device applications inaccessible in conventional heterostructure materials. Research progress of vertical heterostructure device applications in vertical transistors, infrared photodetectors, and spintronic devices is reviewed, together with a discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the future development of multifunctional devices.