In-Plane Anisotropy-Driven Directional Charge Transport in van der Waals p-n Heterojunction

Abstract

Low-symmetry two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials enable anisotropic charge transport, crucial for polarization-sensitive optoelectronics. In this study, a $p$-GeS/$n$-MoS$_2$ heterostructure diode is investigated, where the anisotropic band dispersion of GeS, revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), governs directional charge flow. Angle-resolved Raman spectroscopy confirms the crystallographic orientation, and transport measurements in GeS field-effect transistors (FETs) show a mobility anisotropy of $\sim 3.4$. The heterojunction exhibits orientation-dependent diode characteristics, anti-ambipolar transport, and a type-II band alignment, leading to anisotropic optoelectronic response. These findings establish a pathway for utilizing electronic anisotropy in vdW heterostructures for energy-efficient rectification.