Imaging Charged Exciton Localization in van der Waals WSe2/MoSe2 Heterobilayers

Exciton localization in transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayers is behind a variety of interesting phenomena and applications, including broad-spectrum solar cells and single-photon emissions. Strain fields at the periphery of topographically distinct features such as nanoscopic bubbles were recently associated with localized charge-neutral excitons. Here, we use tip-enhanced photoluminescence (PL) to visualize excitons in WSe2/MoSe2 heterobilayers (HBL). We find strong optical emission from charged excitons, particularly positively charged trions, in HBL supported by interlayer charge transfer. Our results reveal strong trion confinement, with a localization length scale comparable to the trion size, at the apex region inside individual nanoscopic bubbles. Nano-PL mapping also shows sub-10-nm spatial variations in the localized trion emission spectra, which stem from atomic-scale potential energy fluctuations. These findings demonstrate the possibility of confining charged exciton complexes that are electrically tunable, opening up further opportunities to probe many-body exciton physics and to explore additional possible sites for strong exciton localization that can lead to quantum emission.

Automated summary

The study visualized excitons in WSe2/MoSe2 heterobilayers using tip-enhanced photoluminescence, revealing strong confinement of charged excitons in individual nanoscopic bubbles. The localized trion emission spectra show sub-10-nm spatial variations, originating from atomic-scale potential energy fluctuations. These findings demonstrate the potential for confining charged exciton complexes in electrically tunable locations, opening up new opportunities for probing many-body exciton physics and exploring sites for strong exciton localization leading to quantum emission.