Two-dimensional materials combine to dazzling effect

Materials with exotic optical and electronic properties could be realized using a method that enables researchers to readily combine multiple 2D nanomaterials into complex heterostructures.

Materials containing transition metals such as molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide can be grown as one-atom-thick sheets with novel properties, akin to graphene. These 2D transition metal dichalcogenides are typically grown using solid precursors.

Now, a team that included University of Tsukuba researchers has developed a versatile method for growing 2D transition metal dichalcogenides from liquid organic precursors.

The use of liquid rather than solid precursors allowed the researchers to easily switch between different precursors and grow complex structures made from multiple transition metal dichalcogenide. The diverse nanostructures that could be produced this way have great potential as high-performance electronic and optoelectronic materials, the researchers say.