Distortion Evolution of Two-Dimensional Molecular Crystals for Branched Optical Waveguides
Two-dimensional (2D) molecular crystals with irregular morphologies are promising candidates for constructing multifunctional optoelectronics. However, the impact of crystal distortion on morphological irregularities has been largely overlooked, despite its potential for engineering crystal structures with superior functionalities. Here, we report a competitive facet-selective growth strategy for synthesizing 2D molecular crystals with irregular morphologies, ranging from rhombus sheets to distorted compass shapes. Limited material availability makes deposition dominant on crystal facets with high attachment energy, thus driving a progressive structural distortion of microcrystals, evolving from compass shapes to branched wires. The resulting rhombus microsheets exhibit 2D optical waveguides with low-loss properties of 0.02 dB/μm, while the compass sheets enable focused directional emission. Importantly, the fabricated T-like branches with bidirectional waveguides are applied to a complex photonic switching device under dual-beam excitation. This work provides insights into the synthesis of unusual crystals and the development of next-generation optoelectronics.
Authors
- Wan‐Ying Yang
- Liang‐Sheng Liao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2352-9666)
- Junyu Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0366-354X)
- Hongtao Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9603-2247)
- Chang‐Cun Yan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8269-5664)
- Yiliang Bao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2384-747X)
- Shuai Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5094-2783)
- Xuedong Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0935-0835)
- Ying‐Li Shi
- Qiang Lv (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0206-8917)
- Zhao‐Ji Lv
- B J Wang
Institutions
- Macau University of Science and Technology (MO)
- Shandong University of Technology (CN)
- Soochow University (CN)
- Macao Polytechnic University (MO)
- Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nano Letters
- Published
- 2025-08-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c03088
- Primary Topic
- 2D Materials and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
- Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology
- Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project
- Natural Science Research of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China
- National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents
- Key Laboratory for the Synthesis and Application of Organic Functional Molecules, Ministry of Education