Opportunities in nano-optics for sensing and precision metrology

Transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors are ultrathin thin semiconductors that host a rich suite of photophysical phenomena. Excitons govern light-matter interactions in these 2D semiconductors and are fundamental packets of energy that can be manipulated with external stimuli and nanofabricated environments for next-generation technologies. Using nano-optical spectroscopy techniques to access excitonic physics at extreme length scales, a striking diversity of excitonic phenomena has been identified in these 2D materials, including heterogeneity due to edge states and charge puddles. Our latest findings highlight how strain localizes excitons on length scales that are commensurate with their size due to wrinkling phenomena that are unique to 2D materials. These results demonstrate the potential of monolayer semiconductors to be utilized for nanoscale optoelectronic devices with unique functionalities derived from excitonic physics.