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arXiv · 2505.24186

Photostriction-tunable Polarization and Structural Dynamics in Interlayer Sliding Ferroelectrics

Kun Yang·Jianxin Yu·Jia Zhang·Sheng Meng·Jin Zhang
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Abstract

Two-dimensional ferroelectrics with robust polarization offer promising opportunities for non-volatile memory, field-effect transistors, and optoelectronic devices. However, the impact of lattice deformation on polarization and photoinduced structural response remains poorly understood. Here, we employ first-principles calculations to demonstrate photodoping-induced lattice expansion in rhombohedrally stacked bilayer MoS2, revealing a strong coupling between photodoping carrier and lattice structure. We identify a pronounced photostrictive response in sliding ferroelectrics, wherein electron-hole excitation leads to substantial in-plane expansion, increased interlayer spacing, and enhanced ferroelectric polarization. This strain-induced modulation drives significant bandgap renormalization. The photostriction-tunable polarization and structural dynamics arise from the strong electromechanical coupling inherent to the non-centrosymmetric rhombohedral stacking. The findings provide critical insights into the nonthermal lattice expansion governing sliding ferroelectrics at atomic-scale timescales, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for next-generation electronic and memory technologies by leveraging lattice-tunable polarization switching.

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Kun Yang, Jianxin Yu, Jia Zhang, Sheng Meng, Jin Zhang. 2025-05-30. Photostriction-tunable Polarization and Structural Dynamics in Interlayer Sliding Ferroelectrics. https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.24186

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