WS ₂ ribbon arrays with defined chirality and coherent polarity

Abstract

One-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides exhibiting an enhanced bulk photovoltaic effect have the potential to exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit efficiency in solar energy harvest within <i>p</i>-<i>n</i> junction architectures. However, the collective output of these prototype devices remains a challenge. We report on the synthesis of single-crystalline WS₂ ribbon arrays with defined chirality and coherent polarity through an atomic manufacturing strategy. The chirality of WS₂ ribbon was defined by substrate couplings into tunable armchair, zigzag, and chiral species, and the polarity direction was determined by the ribbon-precursor interfacial energy along a coherent direction. A single armchair ribbon showed strong bulk photovoltaic effect and the further integration of ~1000 aligned ribbons with coherent polarity enabled upscaling of the photocurrent.