Exploring two-dimensional devices

Two-dimensional materials and devices are opening up a wide range of possibilities for both fundamental and applied research, yet are accessible to the undergraduate lab. We have built a system to layer two-dimensional exfoliated materials into stacks, opening up the possibility of creating a wide range of device structures. This system has been tested by creating twisted bilayer graphene structures, which are known to exhibit Moiré patterns and have electrical properties that vary with twist angle. These bilayers and other simple field effect devices are being studied further with Atomic Force Microscopy, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy, and bulk electrical measurements to understand electric field screening and potential barriers. Two-dimensional devices have big potential for the future of electronics, and understanding their behavior is an important first step.