A Self-Limiting Electro-Ablation Technique for the Top-Down Synthesis of Large-Area Monolayer Flakes of 2D Materials

Saptarshi Das, Mrinal K. Bera, Sheng Tong, Badri Narayanan, Ganesh Kamath, Anil Mane, Arvydas P. Paulikas, Mark R. Antonio, Subramanian K.R.S. Sankaranarayanan, Andreas K. Roelofs

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23 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the discovery of an electrochemical process that converts two dimensional layered materials of arbitrary thicknesses into monolayers. The lateral dimensions of the monolayers obtained by the process within a few seconds time at room temperature were as large as 0.5 mm. The temporal and spatial dynamics of this physical phenomenon, studied on MoS 2 flakes using ex-situ AFM imaging, Raman mapping, and photoluminescence measurements trace the origin of monolayer formation to a substrate-Assisted self-limiting electrochemical ablation process. Electronic structure and atomistic calculations point to the interplay between three essential factors in the process: (1) strong covalent interaction of monolayer MoS 2 with the substrate; (2) electric-field induced differences in Gibbs free energy of exfoliation; (3) dispersion of MoS 2 in aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. This process was successful in obtaining monolayers of other 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, like WS 2 and MoTe 2 as well.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number28195
JournalScientific reports
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 21 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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