Photoexcitation of C60-WSe2 hybrids for optical sensing

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have caught the interest of post-silicon electronics and optoelectronics researchers due to their exceptional electronic and optoelectronic properties which stem from their unique two-dimensional (2D) layered structure. In recent years, there has been a focus on exploring van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions with TMDCs, including with lower dimensionality materials such as zero-dimensional (0D) systems. Integrating 0D-2D assemblies together provides an opportunity to configure a diverse array of material stacks towards optoelectronics and electronics applications. In this study, we synthesized 0D-2D vdW heterostructure by spin coating C60 molecules on halide-assisted-low-pressure chemical-vapor-deposition (HA-LPCVD) produced monolayer WSe2 flakes. Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy allowed us to assess the charge carrier exchange at the vdW interface. We found that after C60 deposition, the photodetector figures of merit for WSe2 − C60 hybrids improved, and investigations were conducted as a function of illumination power. Our studies reveal that WSe2 − C60 hybrid system is an appealing choice for next generation optical sensing devices.