Free Standing Layers of Silicene like Sheets

TL;DR

This paper reports the synthesis and structural characterization of free-standing silicene-like sheets, highlighting their potential for electronic applications and distinguishing them from exfoliated silicon sheets.

Contribution

It presents the first synthesis of free-standing layered silicene-like sheets and confirms their structure through multiple advanced characterization techniques.

Findings

Samples are silicene-like sheets, not exfoliated silicon.

Structural analysis confirms hexagonal layered structure.

Potential for electronic device applications.

Abstract

Silicene is predicted to possess exotic electronic properties and a forerunner amongst all 2D materials for the development of exotic devices using present silicon technology. Here we report the synthesis of free standing layered 2D hexagonal silicene like sheets. Atomic scale structural characterizations have been performed using HRTEM. Samples have been characterized using HRXRD, SAED, UV-Vis absorption and Raman measurements, which suggests that the samples are silicene like sheets and not exfoliated (111) silicon sheets.