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. 2025 Oct 6;15(44):37183-37193.
doi: 10.1039/d5ra04686f. eCollection 2025 Oct 2.

Spectroscopic signatures of interfacial energy transfer in MoS2-based van der Waals heterostructures under deep-UV excitation

Tsung-Hsien Lee  1 , Sheng-Lung Chou  2 , Tzu-Ping Huang  2 , Chak-Ming Liu  2 , Chih-Hao Chin  2 , Meng-Yeh Lin  2 , Hui-Fen Chen  3 , Yu-Jong Wu  1   2
Affiliations

Spectroscopic signatures of interfacial energy transfer in MoS2-based van der Waals heterostructures under deep-UV excitation

Tsung-Hsien Lee et al. RSC Adv. .

Abstract

We report a comprehensive photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) study of monolayer MoS2 and its van der Waals heterostructures with hBN and graphene under deep-ultraviolet (DUV) excitation. Using synchrotron-based VUV/UV spectroscopy, we reveal that while pristine MoS2 exhibits only A-exciton emission at ∼660 nm under visible excitation, broadband near-infrared emission (750-900 nm) emerges at cryogenic temperatures under DUV excitation in MoS2/hBN and MoS2/graphene heterostructures. This emission indicates a nonlocal excitation-emission mechanism facilitated by interfacial energy transfer from the UV-absorbing layers. In MoS2/hBN, a broad UV band near 350 nm also appears under 200 nm excitation and is attributed to impurity-related defect luminescence in hBN. The interfacial processes are governed by temperature-sensitive radiative channels involving defect-bound states or localized excitons in MoS2. Our results highlight the crucial role of interlayer coupling and spectral sensitization in enabling new radiative pathways in 2D heterostructures, offering novel strategies for tailoring light emission in layered optoelectronic systems.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Raman spectra of (A) MoS2 thin film, (B) MoS2/hBN heterostructure, and (C) MoS2/graphene heterostructure on MgF2 substrates. Characteristic vibrational modes of MoS2 and graphene are labeled in black and blue, respectively.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. AFM topography (20 μm × 20 μm) of transferred MoS2 thin films on (A) MgF2, (B) hBN/MgF2, and (C) graphene/MgF2 substrates.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Absorption spectra of MoS2, MoS2/graphene, and MoS2/hBN thin films on MgF2 substrates at 295 K.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. PL spectra (solid curve) of MoS2, MoS2/graphene, and MoS2/hBN thin films on MgF2 substrates at 295 K under 430 nm excitation. The corresponding PLE spectra (dash curve) were obtained by monitoring the intensity variation of the characteristic PL band of each sample.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. PL spectra of MoS2 thin films on MgF2 substrates at various temperatures under 300 nm excitation.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. PL spectra (solid curve) of MoS2, MoS2/graphene, and MoS2/hBN thin films on MgF2 substrates at 10 K under 260 nm excitation. The corresponding PLE spectra (dash curve) were obtained by monitoring the intensity variation of the characteristic PL band of each sample.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7. PL spectra of MoS2/hBN thin films on MgF2 substrates at 300 K under excitation with various wavelengths.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8. PL spectra of MoS2/graphene thin films on MgF2 substrates at 300 K under excitation with various wavelengths.
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