Atomically layered van der Waals (vdW) materials exhibit remarkable properties, including highly confined infrared waveguide modes and the capacity for infrared emission in the monolayer limit. Here we engineered structures that leverage both of these nano-optical functionalities. Specifically, we encased a photoluminescing atomic sheet of MoTe₂ within two bulk crystals of WSe₂, forming a vdW waveguide for the embedded light-emitting monolayer. The modified electromagnetic environment offered by the WSe₂ waveguide alters MoTe₂ spontaneous emission—a phenomenon we directly image with our interferometric nano-photoluminescence technique. We captured spatially oscillating nanoscale patterns prompted by spontaneous emission from MoTe₂ into waveguide modes of WSe₂ slabs. We quantify the resulting Purcell-enhanced emission rate within the framework of a waveguide quantum electrodynamics model, relating the MoTe₂ spontaneous emission rate to the measured waveguide dispersion. Our work marks a substantial advance in the implementation of all-vdW quantum electrodynamics waveguides.

原子层状范德华 （vdW） 材料表现出卓越的性能，包括高度受限的红外波导模式和单层极限的红外发射能力。在这里，我们设计了利用这两种纳米光学功能的结构。具体来说，我们将 MoTe₂ 的光致发光原子片包裹在 WSe₂ 的两个块状晶体中，形成嵌入式发光单层的 vdW 波导。WSe₂ 波导提供的改进电磁环境改变了 MoTe₂ 自发发射，我们用干涉纳米光致发光技术直接对这种现象进行了成像。我们捕获了由 MoTe₂ 到 WSe₂ 板的波导模式引起的空间振荡纳米级图案。我们在波导量子电动力学模型的框架内量化了得到的 Purcell 增强发射率，将 MoTe₂ 自发发射率与测得的波导色散相关联。我们的工作标志着全 vdW 量子电动力学波导的实现取得了重大进展。