Antimonene: a monolayer material for ultraviolet optical nanodevices

Abstract

Two-dimensional materials draw further attention because of their superior properties applicable in novel technologies. We have calculated the optical properties of α and β allotropes of antimonene monolayers. The dielectric matrix has been calculated within the random phase approximation (RPA) using density functional theory. We have calculated dielectric function, absorption coefficient, refractive index, electronic energy loss spectroscopy and optical reflectivity in the energy range between 0 and 21 eV. Our simulations predict that absorption process starts in the infrared, but peaks in the ultraviolet. Refractive indices are 2.3 (α-Sb) and 1.5 (β-Sb) at the zero energy limit and scale up to 3.6 in the ultraviolet. Reflection rises up to 86% at the UV energies, where antimonene behaves like a metal regarding the incident electromagnetic radiation. Our calculations show that antimonene is appropriate as a material for the microelectronic and optoelectronics nanodevices and solar cell applications, as well as new optical applications using various light emission, detection, modulation and manipulation functions.

Graphene against Other Two-Dimensional Materials: A Comparative Study on the Basis of Photonic Applications

“…Arsenene and antimonene present wide band gaps and high stability since they have an indirect bandgap as two-dimensional monolayers, and these under small biaxial strain can transform their electronic behavior from indirect into direct bang gap semiconductors. The values of refractive index are 2.3 (α-Sb) and 1.5 (β-Sb) at the zero energy limit and scale up to 3.6 in the ultraviolet region [8].…”

“…The typical two-dimensional semiconductors, such as MoS 2 , MoSe 2 , WS 2 , WSe 2 , and phosphorene, have band gaps that are smaller than 2.0 eV reducing their photoresponse in the blue and UV range [7,8]. Arsenene and antimonene present wide band gaps and high stability since they have an indirect bandgap as two-dimensional monolayers, and these under small biaxial strain can transform their electronic behavior from indirect into direct bang gap semiconductors.…”

Noncovalent Functionalization and Charge Transfer in Antimonene

“…Therefore,a ntimonene appears to be ap romising platform for high-performance sensors, [17] double-gate MOSFETs, [18] spintronics, [19,20] optoelectronic applications, [21,22] energy storage and conversion, [23] and biomedicine. [24] Recently,v an der Waals and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) have been applied for the synthesis of antimonene on different surfaces,t hereby exhibiting good stabilities and high electrical conductivities of up to 10 4 Sm À1 in about 30 nm thick flakes.…”

“…Therefore,a ntimonene appears to be ap romising platform for high-performance sensors, [17] double-gate MOSFETs, [18] spintronics, [19,20] optoelectronic applications, [21,22] energy storage and conversion, [23] and biomedicine.…”

“…[4][5][6][7] This result together with its excellent charge-carrier mobility and current on/off ratios renders BP ap erfect candidate for nanoelectronics and nanophotonics.H owever,i ts (in)stability represents am ajor drawback for the development of the real applications. [8][9][10][11] In contrast, its relative in the periodic table, antimonene,that is,asingle layer of antimony,exhibits aband gap of about 1.8-2.4 eV and an outstanding stability under ambient conditions.A ntimonene has been recently isolated for the very first time both by mechanical exfoliation [12] and liquid-phase exfoliation [13] as reported by our groups.A number of theoretical calculations predict extraordinary physical properties like high carrier mobility, [14] thermal conductivity, [15] and strain-induced band transition, [16] among others.Therefore,a ntimonene appears to be ap romising platform for high-performance sensors, [17] double-gate MOSFETs, [18] spintronics, [19,20] optoelectronic applications, [21,22] energy storage and conversion, [23] and biomedicine.[24]Recently,v an der Waals and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) have been applied for the synthesis of antimonene on different surfaces,t hereby exhibiting good stabilities and high electrical conductivities of up to 10 4 Sm À1 in about 30 nm thick flakes. [25,26] Despite synthetic efforts,t he chemistry and therefore the molecular doping of antimonene remains completely unexplored.…”