Probing and Tuning Strain‐Localized Exciton Emission in 2D Material Bubbles at Room Temperature

J Junze Zhou (The Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA) J John C. Thomas T Thomas P. Darlington E Edward S. Barnard (Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA) A Atsushi Taguchi (Research Institute for Electronic Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido 001‐0020 Japan) A Adam Schwartzberg A Alexander Weber‐Bargioni (The Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA)

Abstract

Abstract In monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides bubbles—nanoscale deformations typically exhibiting a dome‐like shape—Excitons are confined by the strain effect, which exhibits extraordinary emission properties, such as single photon generation, enhanced light emission, and spectrally tunable excitonic states. While the strain profiles of these bubbles are extensively studied, this work provides an approach 1) to directly visualize the associated exciton properties in bubbles formed in WSe 2 monolayer, revealing an intrinsic emission wavelength shift of ≈40 nm, and 2) actively modify local strain, enabling further exciton emission tuning over a range of 50 nm. These are achieved by emission mapping and nanoindentation using a dielectric near‐field probe, which enables the detection of local emission spectra and emission lifetimes within individual bubbles. Statistical analysis of 67 bubbles uncovers an emission wavelength distribution centered around 780 nm. Furthermore, saturation behavior in the power‐dependent studies and the associated lifetime change reveal the localized nature of the strain‐induced states. These findings provide direct insights into the strain‐localized emission dynamics in bubbles and establish a robust framework for non‐destructive, reversible, and predictable nanoscale emission control, presenting a potential avenue for developing next‐generation tunable quantum optical sources.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 3
Published January 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

J

Junze Zhou

The Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA

J

John C. Thomas

T

Thomas P. Darlington

E

Edward S. Barnard

Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA

A

Atsushi Taguchi

Research Institute for Electronic Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido 001‐0020 Japan

A

Adam Schwartzberg

A

Alexander Weber‐Bargioni

The Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA