All-optical nanoscale logic components are regarded as fundamental building blocks of optical computing, enabling logic functions to be executed quickly and effectively avoiding thermal effects and signal crosstalk problems. Consequently, nanoscale all-optical computing is technologically forward-looking, but its realization necessitates the development of a multifunctional logic unit library. Here we construct a WS2/CrSBr heterostructure network to break the rotational symmetry of WS2, achieving a photoluminescence (PL) anisotropy ratio of 2.2. The twist angle of WS2/CrSBr has been further proven to be an effective method for modulating the PL anisotropy ratio and valley polarization degree. Taking advantage of the polarization-dependent emission characteristics of the WS2/CrSBr heterostructure networks, we demonstrate all-optical nanoscale switches. These networks can carry out diverse logical operations (including AND, OR, NAND, and NOR functions) and further implement all-optical binary arithmetic calculations, such as n-bit addition and subtraction. Our research highlights that assembling van der Waals heterostructure networks opens a new pathway for multifunctional optoelectronic devices and development of monolithic on-chip all-optical nanoprocessors.
Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.