Two Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Synthesis and Exfoliation

POSTER

Abstract

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are layered crystals that can be exfoliated to a monolayer while maintaining their electronic properties. Since the demand for high performing smaller electronic components is on the rise, the ability for the compounds to maintain electronic properties at the atomic level makes them appealing for various state-of-the-art applications. However, most TMDC compounds are not naturally abundant and must be synthesized in order to evaluate their electronic properties. An efficient and reliable method is required to synthesize the TMDC material. To determine the best techniques, methods of crystal synthesis and exfoliation were coupled to see which materials were best suited for this process. The chemical vapor transport method and sublimation methods were successful synthesis procedures and consistently created layered structured crystals. Micromechanical cleavage is the cleanest and simplest method for exfoliating monolayers. The compounds evaluated through this process were two semiconductors: tungsten disulfide and tungsten diselenide, as well as a superconductor: tantalum disulfide. For the semiconductors, photoluminescence was used to determine the number of layers and confirm the direct bandgap in exfoliated monolayer samples. For all compounds, atomic force microscopy was used to confirm the number of layers once exfoliated. All materials exhibit a potential for clean synthesis through mechanical exfoliation, simplifying the process to synthesize samples for TMDC research.

Authors

  • Marina Paggen

    Univ of Texas, El Paso

  • Hanu Arava

    University of Houston, University of Texas at Brownsville, None, Univ of Texas, San Antonio, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Arizona, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, University of Texas at Brownsville, Laboratoire des Mat\'eriaux Avanc\'es, Universit\'e Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UTEP, University of Texas, Austin, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Arlington, MIT, U. Mass. Dartmouth, Texas A{\&}M University, Texas Christian University, Laboratoire des Mat\'erieux Avanc\'es B\^atiment Virgo, Ion Beam Materials Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University, Accelerator Research Laboratory, University of Florida, The Ohio State University, Yale University, University of Guelph, Canada, Armagh Observatory, NASA-Ames, NASA-Goddard, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Hanyang University, Texas A\&M Univ, Department of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, Physics Department, Texas State University at San Marcos

  • Hanu Arava

    University of Houston, University of Texas at Brownsville, None, Univ of Texas, San Antonio, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Arizona, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, University of Texas at Brownsville, Laboratoire des Mat\'eriaux Avanc\'es, Universit\'e Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UTEP, University of Texas, Austin, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Arlington, MIT, U. Mass. Dartmouth, Texas A{\&}M University, Texas Christian University, Laboratoire des Mat\'erieux Avanc\'es B\^atiment Virgo, Ion Beam Materials Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University, Accelerator Research Laboratory, University of Florida, The Ohio State University, Yale University, University of Guelph, Canada, Armagh Observatory, NASA-Ames, NASA-Goddard, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Hanyang University, Texas A\&M Univ, Department of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, Physics Department, Texas State University at San Marcos