Enhanced Visibility of MoS2, MoSe2, WSe2 and Black Phosphorus: Making Optical Identification of 2D Semiconductors Easier

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that Si3N4/Si substrates significantly improve the optical contrast and visibility of key 2D semiconductors like MoS2 and black phosphorus, facilitating easier optical identification in nanoelectronics.

Contribution

The paper introduces Si3N4/Si substrates as an effective alternative to SiO2/Si, enhancing optical contrast and detection of 2D materials for the first time.

Findings

Optical contrast increases by 50-100% with Si3N4/Si substrates.

Maximum contrast shifts to wavelengths optimal for human eye detection.

Enhanced visibility simplifies optical identification of 2D semiconductors.

Abstract

We explore the use of Si3N4/Si substrates as a substitute of the standard SiO2/Si substrates employed nowadays to fabricate nanodevices based on 2D materials. We systematically study the visibility of several 2D semiconducting materials that are attracting a great deal of interest in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics: MoS2, MoSe2, WSe2 and black phosphorus. We find that the use of Si3N4/Si substrates provides an increase of the optical contrast up to a 50%-100% and also the maximum contrast shifts towards wavelength values optimal for human eye detection, making optical identification of 2D semiconductors easier.