Switchable valley functionalities of an n − n− − n junction in 2D crystals

Abstract

We show that an n − n− − n junction in 2D crystals can flexibly realize two basic valleytronic functions, i.e. valley filter and valley source, with gate controlled switchability between the two. Upon carrier flux passing through the junction, the valley filter and valley source functions are enabled respectively by intra- and inter-valley scatterings, and the two functions dominate respectively at small and large band-offset between the n and n− regions. It can be generally shown that, the valley filter effect has an angular dependent polarity and vanishes under angular integration, by the same constraint from time-reversal symmetry that leads to its absence in one dimension. These findings are demonstrated for monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides and graphene using tight-binding calculations. We further show that junction along chiral directions can concentrate the valley pump in an angular interval largely separated from the bias direction, allowing efficient havest of valley polarization in a cross-bar device.