Search for: All records

We develop a general methodology capable of analyzing the response of Weyl semimetal (WSM) photogalvanic networks. Both single-port and multiport configurations are investigated via extended versions of Norton’s theorem. An equivalent circuit model is provided where the photogalvanic currents induced in these gapless topological materials can be treated as polarization-dependent sources. To illustrate our approach, we carry out transport simulations in arbitrarily shaped configurations involving pertinent WSMs. Our analysis indicates that the photogalvanic currents collected in a multi-electrode system directly depend on the geometry of the structure as well as on the excitation and polarization pattern of the incident light. Our results could be helpful in designing novel optoelectronic systems that make use of the intriguing features associated with WSMs. 

Abstract Planar alignment of disc‐like nanomaterials is required to transfer their superior anisotropic properties from microscopic individual structures to macroscopic collective assemblies. However, such alignment by electrical or magnetic field is challenging due to their additional degrees of orientational freedom compared to that of rod‐like nanostructures. Here, the realization of planar alignment of suspended graphene sheets using a rotating magnetic field produced by a pair of small NdFeB magnets and subsequent demonstration of high optical anisotropy and potential novel device applications is reported. Compared to partially aligned sheets with a static magnetic field, planar aligned graphene suspensions exhibit a near‐perfect order parameter, much higher birefringence and anisotropic absorption/transmission. A unique feature of discotic nanomaterial assemblies is that the observed order parameter and optical property can vary from isotropic to partial and complete alignment depending on the experimental configuration. By immobilizing and patterning aligned graphene in a UV‐curable polymer resin, we further demonstrated an all‐graphene permanent display, which exhibits wide‐angle, high dark‐bright contrast in either transmission or reflection mode without any polarizing optics. The ability to control and pattern graphene orientation in all three dimensions opens up new exploration and broad device applications of graphene.