Current induced electromechanical strain in thin antipolar Ag2Se semiconductor

Hao Luo, Qi Liang, Anan Guo, Yimeng Yu, Haoyang Peng, Xiaoyi Gao, Yihao Hu, Xianli Su, Ctirad Uher, Yu Zheng, Dongwang Yang, Xiaolin Wang, Qingjie Zhang, Xinfeng Tang, Shi Liu, Gustaaf Tendeloo, Shujun Zhang () and Jinsong Wu ()
Additional contact information
Hao Luo: Wuhan University of Technology
Qi Liang: Wuhan University of Technology
Anan Guo: Wuhan University of Technology
Yimeng Yu: Wuhan University of Technology
Haoyang Peng: Wuhan University of Technology
Xiaoyi Gao: Wuhan University of Technology
Yihao Hu: Westlake University
Xianli Su: Wuhan University of Technology
Ctirad Uher: University of Michigan
Yu Zheng: Wuhan University of Technology
Dongwang Yang: Wuhan University of Technology
Xiaolin Wang: University of Wollongong
Qingjie Zhang: Wuhan University of Technology
Xinfeng Tang: Wuhan University of Technology
Shi Liu: Westlake University
Gustaaf Tendeloo: Wuhan University of Technology
Shujun Zhang: University of Wollongong
Jinsong Wu: Wuhan University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Electromechanical coupling permits energy conversion between electrical and elastic forms, with wide applications1,2. This conversion is usually observed in dielectric materials as piezoelectricity and electrostriction3–7. Electromechanical coupling response has also been observed in semiconductors8, however, the mechanism in semiconductors with a small bandgap remains contentious. Here we present a breakthrough discovery of a giant electromechanical strain triggered by the electric current in thin antipolar Ag2Se semiconductor. This phenomenon is made possible by the alteration of dipoles at a low current density (step I), followed by a phase transition under a moderate current density (step II), leading to a local strain of 6.7% measured by in-situ transmission electron microscopy. Our finding demonstrates that electric current has both thermal and athermal effect (e.g. alteration of dipoles and interaction of dipole vortices with the electric current). This strain allows for the concurrent control of electroelastic deformation and electric conductivity.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57057-5

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