Magnetic Proximity Evoked Colossal Bulk Photovoltaics in Crystalline Symmetric Layers

Abstract

Bulk photovoltaic (BPV) effect, a second order nonlinear process that generates static current under light irradiation, requires centrosymmetric broken systems as its application platform. In order to realize measurable BPV photocurrent in spatially centrosymmetric materials, various schemes such as chemical doping, structural deformation, or electric bias have been developed. In the current work, we suggest that magnetic proximity effect via van der Waals interfacial interaction, a contact-free strategy, also breaks the centrosymmetry and generate large BPV photocurrents. Using the Bi2Te3 quintuple layer as an exemplary material, we show that magnetic proximity from MnBi2Te4 septuple layers yield finite and tunable shift and injection photocurrents. We apply group analysis and first-principles calculations to evaluate the layer-specific shift and injection current generations under linearly polarized light irradiation. We find that the magnetic injection photoconductivity that localized on the Bi2Te3 layer can reach over 70*108 A/(V2s), so that a 1D linear current density on the order of 0.1 mA/nm can be achieved under an intermediate intensity light. In addition to charge current, we also extend our discussions into spin BPV current, giving pure photo-generated spin current. The vertical propagation direction between the charge and spin photocurrents suggest that they can be used individually in a single material. Compared with previously reported methods, the magnetic proximity effect via van der Waals interface does not significantly alter the intrinsic feature of the centrosymmetric material (e.g., Bi2Te3), and its manipulation can be easily achieved by the proximate magnetic configurations (of MnBi2Te4), interlayer distance, and light polarization.

arXiv comment7 figures, under peer review

References in corpus (37)

• Van der Waals heterostructures
• Maximally-localized generalized Wannier functions for composite energy bands
• Maximally-localized Wannier functions for entangled energy bands
• Two-dimensional materials from high-throughput computational exfoliation of experimentally known compounds
• Wannier90 as a community code: new features and applications
• Magnetic-field-induced quantized anomalous Hall effect in intrinsic magnetic topological insulator MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Prediction and observation of the first antiferromagnetic topological insulator
• Van der Waals bonding in layered compounds from advanced first-principles calculations
• Intrinsic magnetic topological insulators in van der Waals layered MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$-family materials
• Unique thickness-dependent properties of the van der Waals interlayer antiferromagnet $\mathrm{MnB}{\mathrm{i}}_2\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_4$ films
• First principles calculations of the Shift Current Bulk Photovoltaic Effect in Ferroelectrics
• On A Proper Definition of Spin Current
• Engineering symmetry breaking in two-dimensional layered materials
• Layer Hall effect in a 2D topological Axion antiferromagnet
• A van der Waals antiferromagnetic topological insulator with weak interlayer magnetic coupling
• Highly-ordered wide bandgap materials for quantized anomalous Hall and magnetoelectric effects
• Low-frequency divergence and quantum geometry of the bulk photovoltaic effect in topological semimetals
• Variety of magnetic topological phases in the (MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$)(Bi${}_2$Te${}_3$)${}_m$ family
• Magnetically Switchable Light-Matter Interaction in the Two-Dimensional Magnet CrI3
• Electric displacement as the fundamental variable in electronic-structure calculations
• Rational design principles of quantum anomalous Hall effect from superlattice-like magnetic topological insulators
• Pure Spin Photocurrent in Non-centrosymmetric Crystals: Bulk Spin Photovoltaic Effect
• Tunable Layer Circular Photogalvanic Effect in Twisted Bilayers
• Giant nonlinear photocurrent in $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric magnetic topological quantum materials
• Large Bulk Piezophotovoltaic Effect of Monolayer $2H$-MoS${}_2$
• Giant linearly-polarized photogalvanic effect and second harmonic generation in two-dimensional axion insulators
• Linear and nonlinear optical response of crystals using length and velocity gauges: Effect of basis truncation
• Pure Bulk Orbital and Spin Photocurrent in Two-Dimensional Ferroelectric Materials
• Colossal switchable photocurrents in topological Janus transition metal dichalcogenides
• PT-symmetry enabled spin circular photogalvanic effect in antiferromagnetic insulators
• Routes to realize the axion-insulator phase in MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$(Bi${}_2$Te${}_3$)${}_n$ family: a perspective
• Basic formulation and first-principles implementation of nonlinear magneto-optical effects
• Pursuing High-Temperature Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$/Sb${}_2$Te${}_3$ Heterostructures
• A comprehensive theory of second-order spin photocurrents
• Anomalous Second Harmonic Generation from Atomically Thin MnBi2Te4
• Facet dependent surface energy gap on magnetic topological insulators
• Nonlinear Nonreciprocal Photocurrents under Phonon Dressing

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Shift current response in elemental two-dimensional ferroelectrics
• Light-induced topological phase transition with tunable layer Hall effect in axion antiferromagnets
• Skin Effect of Nonlinear Optical Responses in Antiferromagnets
• Nonlinear optics driven magnetism reorientation in semiconductors
• Nonlinear optical response in kagome lattice with inversion symmetry breaking
• Quantum spin Hall effect in bilayer honeycomb lattices with C-type antiferromagnetic order
• Vertex correction for the linear and nonlinear optical responses in superconductors: multiband effect and topological superconductivity
• Two-dimensional Intrinsic Janus Structures: Design Principle and Anomalous Nonlinear Optics