Coherent phonon transport and Anderson localization in WS2/MoS2 superlattices
Abstract
Understanding the interplay between coherent and incoherent phonon transport is essential for designing efficient nanoscale devices. Although many studies focus on three-dimensional materials, we still lack a systematic understanding of wave-based transport and localization effects in two-dimensional systems. Here we show that perfectly periodic heterostructures made of alternating layers of tungsten disulfide and molybdenum disulfide exhibit a non-monotonic pattern in their thermal conductance profile, a direct signature of coherent transport. In contrast, introducing aperiodicity leads to the emergence of Anderson localization, visible as an exponential decay of phonon transmission with superlattice length. Using first-principles combined with atomistic Green-function calculations, we quantify how structural disorder suppresses in-plane thermal conductance through coherent localization rather than incoherent scattering. These findings clarify how distinct coherent transport regimes arise in ordered versus aperiodic two-dimensional superlattices, and establish principles for controlling heat flow through wave interference in layered materials.
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BibTeX
@article{sebbar2026coherent,
title = {{Coherent phonon transport and Anderson localization in WS2/MoS2 superlattices}},
author = {Anass Sebbar and Shubham Tyagi and Nicolas Cavassilas and Yangyu Guo and Zhongwei Zhang and Sebastian Volz and Marc Bescond},
journal = {Communications Physics},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1038/s42005-026-02709-1},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05761272v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Coherent phonon transport and Anderson localization in WS2/MoS2 superlattices
AU - Anass Sebbar
AU - Shubham Tyagi
AU - Nicolas Cavassilas
AU - Yangyu Guo
AU - Zhongwei Zhang
AU - Sebastian Volz
AU - Marc Bescond
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/08
JO - Communications Physics
DO - 10.1038/s42005-026-02709-1
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05761272v1
AB - Understanding the interplay between coherent and incoherent phonon transport is essential for designing efficient nanoscale devices. Although many studies focus on three-dimensional materials, we still lack a systematic understanding of wave-based transport and localization effects in two-dimensional systems. Here we show that perfectly periodic heterostructures made of alternating layers of tungsten disulfide and molybdenum disulfide exhibit a non-monotonic pattern in their thermal conductance profile, a direct signature of coherent transport. In contrast, introducing aperiodicity leads to the emergence of Anderson localization, visible as an exponential decay of phonon transmission with superlattice length. Using first-principles combined with atomistic Green-function calculations, we quantify how structural disorder suppresses in-plane thermal conductance through coherent localization rather than incoherent scattering. These findings clarify how distinct coherent transport regimes arise in ordered versus aperiodic two-dimensional superlattices, and establish principles for controlling heat flow through wave interference in layered materials.
SN - 2399-3650
SN - 2399-3650
ER -