Author: Klaas-Jan Tielrooij

Abstract:

Efficient heat dissipation is critical for chip components, in particular around (sub)microscopic regions with locally elevated power densities, where performance degradation and failure can originate. Here, we experimentally demonstrate enhanced heat dissipation using hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) flakes and heterostructures on gold nanostrips and hexagonal SiGe nanowires. These nanoscale building blocks for electronic and photonic chips simultaneously serve as local temperature sensors. We transferred flakes using dry transfer, ensuring pristine interfaces. Covering gold nanostrips with hBN flakes or hBN/graphene/hBN stacks decreases the temperature ramp rate by up to 40%, and increases the breakdown current density by up to 30%. This occurs through improved in-plane heat dissipation, according to our simulations. Covering hexagonal SiGe nanowires with hBN decreases the operating temperature by up to 500 K under optical excitation, due to improved thermal boundary conductance. These findings pave the way for targeted thermal management in miniaturized electronic and photonic devices.

⇒ This work is one of the main results of the ERC Proof of Concept project “COOLGRAELE – COOLing electronic devices with GRAphene ELEctrons” (ERC-2022-POC-101069363)

⇒ This work is the first joint ICN2-TU/e publication involving multiple researchers from the Advanced Nanomaterials and Devices capacity group.

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Abstract:

Titanium carbide MXene (Ti₃C₂Tₓ) is an emerging metallic material with promise for (opto)electronics and thermal management. Yet how photoexcitation—particularly via photogenerated thermal energy—modifies its charge carrier dynamics remains poorly understood. By combining time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy and transient reflectance measurements, we reveal a long-lived, photo-induced suppression of conductivity, which we attribute to efficient lattice heating and slow heat dissipation in Ti₃C₂T_x. A systematic variation of pump photon energy reveals that this ‘negative’ photoconductivity can equivalently be induced by lattice temperature increases, indicating a thermal origin. Repetition-rate-dependent transient reflectance measurements further show residual heat persisting over 100 ns, substantially longer than in conventional metals. Our work presents a unified understanding of photothermal effects in Ti₃C₂Tₓ and their influence on non-equilibrium charge transport, underscoring its potential for photothermal electronics and light-to-thermal energy storage applications.

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The goal of the project is to develop graphene-based integrated terahertz detector-interferometer technology toward applications in quality control at ICN2

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the results of the second Proof of Concept (PoC) Grants 2025 call. In this second round, 136 projects have been awarded funding. In total, 300 projects have been funded in 2025 under the €45 million Horizon Europe programme. The grants aim to help move research results from the laboratory into commercial and real-world applications. One of the selected projects is THICOHERENTERA, led by Prof. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij, head of the ICN2 Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems Group.

THICOHERENTERA will explore the commercial potential of a new method for measuring the thickness of thin films using graphene-based detectors. The project addresses the need to ensure that materials used in everyday products and infrastructure perform as expected. This requires non-destructive quality control techniques, ideally without physical contact. A clear example is the accurate measurement of layers such as car paint and protective coatings on wind turbines.

The project proposes a new approach to contactless industrial quality control based on low-energy terahertz light. This type of radiation is very safe and does not damage materials. When combined with a graphene detector, this technology enables the precise measurement of layer thicknesses without interrupting the manufacturing process. Unlike existing systems, it does not rely on complex or costly laser technologies, facilitating its future industrial deployment.

With the support of this ERC Grant, the team led by Prof. Tielrooij will develop compact prototypes for real-world applications and explore business models to facilitate the future commercialisation of the technology. These goals will be pursued by an experienced multidisciplinary team of scientists, technologists, and business development specialists.

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Thesis abstract:

As silicon technology continues its drive toward ever-smaller electronic components —where the channel thickness in modern field-effect transistors is already reduced to ∼5 nm to sustain the trajectory predicted by Moore’s law— thermal management emerges as a critical challenge. Conventional three-dimensional materials like silicon suffer performance degradation at the nanoscale, primarily due to enhanced surface scattering from a higher proportion of surface atoms and an increased density of dangling bonds. To sustain miniaturization while adding new functions to silicon chips, two-dimensional (2D) materials offer a compelling path forward. Because they are atomically thin and exhibit anisotropic thermal properties, 2D materials are well suited to hybrid 3D–2D integration, potentially adding sensing, photonic and memristive capabilities for neuromorphic computing in future electronic and optoelectronic platforms. In this work, we contribute to the fundamental understanding of 2D material properties with an experimental investigation of phonon-mediated heat transport in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). We focus on how thickness and environmental conditions influence their interfacial and thermal conductivities. First, we develop a system to transfer and manipulate 2D materials, with which we prepare record-large suspended flakes down to the monolayer thickness [Chapter 3]. Second, we build a versatile optical setup specifically designed to explore thermal transport in nanoscale systems [Chapters 4 and 5]. Third, using our ultrafast time-domain thermoreflectance setup, we present preliminary insights into coherent out-of-plane heat transport in MoS2 flakes with varying thicknesses down to the monolayer and at varying temperatures. We discuss the results in terms of possible effects of coherent phonons and coherent photons [Chapters 6 and 7]. Finally, using non-contact, steady-state Raman thermometry we determine the intrinsic in-plane thermal conductivity of MoSe2 across various thicknesses, and find an enhanced heat dissipation capabilities to environmental molecules for the thinnest flakes [Chapter 8]. Our findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of heat dissipation in van der Waals materials and support their integration into emerging technologies.

Abstract: Understanding the ultrafast transport properties of charge carriers in transition metal dichalcogenides is essential for advancing technologies based on these materials. Here, we study MoSe₂ crystals with thicknesses down to the monolayer, combining ultrafast spatiotemporal microscopy and quantitative microscopic modelling. Crucially, we obtain the intrinsic ultrafast transport dynamics by studying suspended crystals that do not suffer from detrimental substrate effects. In mono- and bilayer crystals, we identify four sequential transport regimes. The first two regimes involve high-energy non-thermalized and quasi-thermalized carriers that propagate rapidly with diffusivities up to 1000 cm²/s. After ~1.5 ps, a remarkable third regime occurs with apparent negative diffusion, finally followed by exciton propagation limited by trapping into defect states. Interestingly, for trilayer and thicker crystals, only the first and last regimes occur. This work underscores the role of traps and dielectric environment in electron transport, offering valuable insights for the development of (flexible) (opto)electronic applications.

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– Review of recent developments in graphene-semiconductor heterostructures with intriguing properties.

– Summary of recent progress in interfacial charge dynamics relevant to (opto)electronic applications.

– Outlook on future research directions toward the effective control of interfacial dynamics.

Abstract:

Low-dimensional materials have left a mark on modern materials science, creating new opportunities for next-generation optoelectronic applications. Integrating disparate nanoscale building blocks into heterostructures offers the possibility of combining the advantageous features of individual components and exploring the properties arising from their interactions and atomic-scale proximity. The sensitization of graphene using semiconductors provides a highly promising platform for advancing optoelectronic applications through various hybrid systems. A critical aspect of achieving superior performance lies in understanding and controlling the fate of photogenerated charge carriers, including generation, transfer, separation, and recombination. Here, we review recent advances in understanding charge carrier dynamics in graphene-semiconductor heterostructures by ultrafast laser spectroscopies. First, we present a comprehensive overview of graphene-based heterostructures and their state-of-the-art optoelectronic applications. This is succeeded by an introduction to the theoretical frameworks that elucidate the fundamental principles and determinants influencing charge transfer and energy transfer—two critical interfacial processes that are vital for both fundamental research and device performance. We then outline recent efforts aimed at investigating ultrafast charge/energy flow in graphene-semiconductor heterostructures, focusing on illustrating the trajectories, directions, and mechanisms of transfer and recombination processes. Subsequently, we discuss effective control knobs that allow fine-tuning of these processes. Finally, we address the challenges and prospects for further investigation in this field.

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Determining the electronic transport properties of graphene nanoribbons is crucial for assessing their suitability for applications. So far, this has been highly challenging both through experimental and theoretical approaches. This is particularly the case for graphene nanoribbons that are prepared by chemical vapor deposition, which is a scalable and industry-compatible bottom-up growth method that results in closely packed arrays of ribbons with relatively short lengths of a few tens of nanometers. In this study, the experimental technique of spatiotemporal microscopy is applied to study monolayer films of 9-armchair graphene nanoribbons prepared using this growth method, and combined with linear-scaling quantum transport calculations of arrays of thousands of nanoribbons. Both approaches directly resolve electronic spreading in space and time through diffusion and give an initial diffusivity approaching 200 cm²/s during the first picosecond after photoexcitation. This corresponds to a mobility up to 550 cm²/Vs. The quasi-free carriers then form excitons, which spread with a diffusivity of tens of cm²/s. The results indicate that this relatively large charge carrier mobility is the result of electronic transport not being hindered by defects nor inter-ribbon hopping. This confirms their suitability for applications that require efficient electronic transport.

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Thesis abstract:

It has been a longstanding goal of physicists to understand how heat flows and how it affects the thermal properties of materials. This quest has been driven not only by the pursuit of knowledge but also by the tremendous importance of heat in daily life. The discovery of new materials has introduced challenges in understanding fundamental properties such as heat transport, while also opening avenues for technological advancements.

In this thesis, we investigate the heat transport properties of a class of layered materials known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). We study these materials using two different optical techniques: the conventional technique of Raman thermometry and a novel spatiotemporal pump-probe thermometry technique that we have developed.

With this new technique, we directly quantify the in-plane thermal diffusivity in TMDs. The thermal diffusivities obtained for MoSe2, down to a thickness of 3 layers, are consistent with results obtained from Raman thermometry. Interestingly, in monolayer and bilayer samples, we observe a transition in heat transport behaviour—from diffusive in thicker samples to viscous with very low diffusivity in ultrathin samples. We attribute this viscous transport to the hydrodynamic flow of heat, a phenomenon that has never been observed in TMDs at any temperature.