Ultrahigh pyroelectricity in monoelemental 2D tellurium

We report an ultrahigh pyroelectric response in van der Waals bonded layers of two-dimensional (2D) tellurium (Te) nanosheets (thickness, d = 4 to 5 nm) at periodic on-off temperature oscillations. For the first time a large pyroelectric coefficient, Pc ~ 3 mC.m-2.K-1, is observed which is eightfold...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Mishra, Hari Krishna, Jain, Ayushi, Saini, Dalip, Mondal, Bidya, Bera, Chandan, Shanker, Ram, Mandal, Dipankar
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 26.07.2024
Subjects
Electron states
First principles
Flexible components
Lead zirconate titanates
Nanosheets
Piezoelectricity
Pyroelectricity
Symmetry
Tellurium
Thermal energy
Thermal expansion
Thickness
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Summary:We report an ultrahigh pyroelectric response in van der Waals bonded layers of two-dimensional (2D) tellurium (Te) nanosheets (thickness, d = 4 to 5 nm) at periodic on-off temperature oscillations. For the first time a large pyroelectric coefficient, Pc ~ 3 mC.m-2.K-1, is observed which is eightfold higher than the traditional state-of-the-art pyroelectrics (lead zirconate titanate, PZT). The first-principles calculations point out that the breakdown of centro-symmetry in the 1-3 Te-layers (P-3m1 space group) of a non-centrosymmetry (higher-order symmetry of C2 space group) on an angular twist in the Te-Te bonds of an exotic electronic state in 2D Te. The angular Te-Te twisting elicits a surface-enhanced Raman band at 101 cm-1 (absent in bulk Te). The stimulation of the Born effective charge, in-plane piezoelectricity and thermal expansion coefficient are shown to tailor the large pyroelectricity. Thus, 2D Te nanosheets present a new paradigm for the wide application of pyroelectric materials for developing thermal energy-based flexible electronics.
ISSN:2331-8422