Coupled electron-phonon hydrodynamics in two-dimensional semiconductors

Abstract

Electronic and thermal transport properties in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have been extensively investigated due to their potential to miniaturize transistors. Microscopically, electron-phonon interactions are considered the dominant momentum relaxation mechanism for electrons that limits carrier mobility beyond cryogenic temperatures. However, when electrons and phonons are considered as a single system, electron-phonon interactions conserve the total momentum and energy, leading to the possibility of low-dissipation transport. In this work, we systematically investigate the momentum circulation between electrons and phonons and its impact on carrier transport properties in 2D semiconductors given their strong electron-phonon interactions. We find that, when momentum circulation is taken into account, the total momentum in the coupled electron-phonon system is weakly dissipated, leading to a coupled electron-phonon hydrodynamic transport regime, in which electrons and phonons exhibit a joint drift motion rather than separate diffusive behaviors. In this new transport regime, charge transport properties are significantly enhanced. Contrary to previous belief, our results demonstrate that low-dissipation charge transport can occur despite strong electron-phonon interactions when there is effective momentum circulation between electrons and phonons mediated by the strong interactions. Our work advances fundamental understandings of carrier transport in 2D semiconductors.