Silver Organochalcogenides—An Emerging Family of Hybrid 2D Semiconductors

Silver organochalcogenides (SOCs) are a novel class of hybrid organic-inorganic 2D semiconductors. Like transition metal dichalcogenides and 2D lead halide perovskites, SOCs can be synthesized in the form of three-dimensional crystals consisting of 2D layers held together by van der Waals forces. However, SOCs are distinguished from perovskites and other vdW crystals by the presence of organic ligands covalently bound to each 2D inorganic layer, which imparts chemical robustness and a unique handle for tuning the electronic properties. Silver phenylselenolate (AgSePh), a prototypical 2D SOC, exhibits narrow blue emission, large exciton binding energy, and in-plane anisotropy.<br/>In this talk, I will discuss efforts from my lab to synthesize new AgSePh derivatives, optimize their morphology, and understand the effects of organic functionalization on photophysics in this unique class of materials.