Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are demonstrating a new two-dimensional material heterostructure-the basic building block of advanced semiconductor devices-in the future in compact sensors and detectors, optical communications, optical integrated circuits, and quantum computers. Huge application potential.
The researchers found that a mineral lengenbachite flakes discovered in Switzerland 100 years ago have strong anisotropic properties, which means that the optical response of the flakes changes along the axis according to the direction. The researchers said that this may have an impact on directional light-emitting devices, encrypted data transmission and signal processing, and polarization-sensitive photodetectors.
The researchers described their findings in the high-quality Nature Portfolio journal npj 2D Materials and Applications. They used Nitto PVC tape to mechanically peel off large pieces of minerals to obtain ultra-thin lengenbachite sheets about 30 nanometers thick. Lengenbachite is composed of a stack of alternating weak bonding layers of four atoms thick lead sulfide and five atoms thick arsenic trisulfide.
Interestingly, the researchers observed an out-of-plane one-dimensional corrugated structure along the surface of the lengenbachite sheet. The ripples are caused by periodic mechanical strains generated between alternating atomic layers. With the help of several spectroscopy techniques, the researchers found that the flakes have strong anisotropic optical properties.
"We are very pleased to introduce this new type of natural anisotropic 2D material heterostructure into the existing 2D material library," said Dr. Xiaodong Yang, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology and one of the authors of the research paper. "Further research on the anisotropic mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties of the lengenbachite sheet may help to completely establish this new material for integrating on-chip sensors and microelectromechanical systems."
About Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university with more than 7,200 students and is part of the four campuses of the University of Missouri system. Missouri Institute of Technology is located in Rolla, Missouri. It offers 101 different degree programs in 40 fields of study, and was named the best public university for studying engineering by CollegeFactual. For more information about Missouri Technology, please visit www.mst.edu.
December 3, 2021. Published in Missouri University of Science and Technology School of Engineering and Computing, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, News, Research, Science and Technology
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