Characterizing the 2D Growth of Metals on Monolayer and Twisted Bilayer Transition Metal Chalcogenides

The recent finding of surface confined two-dimensional growth enabled by the surprising mass transport and reactive process of metals on 2D materials has led to new possibilities in synthesizing quantum materials and engineered quantum structures. This includes the opportunity to introduce superconductivity into fractional Chern insulator (FCI), for instance, by designable on-chip synthesis of Pd₇MoTe₂ (superconductor) on twisted bilayer MoTe₂ (a FCI material). We report on the growth and characterization of such new crystal growth process confined to 2D materials, using tools such as atomic force microscope, scanning electron microscope, and atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscope, for examining the growth process and the final products of such reactions on both monolayers and twisted bilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides.