Mechanical Isolation of Highly Stable Antimonene under Ambient Conditions

TL;DR

This study demonstrates a reliable method to produce stable single-layer antimonene that retains its properties in ambient conditions, confirmed by experiments and DFT calculations, highlighting its potential for optoelectronic applications.

Contribution

The paper introduces a mechanical exfoliation and double transfer technique to produce stable antimonene monolayers that are resistant to environmental degradation.

Findings

Single-layer antimonene can be produced via mechanical exfoliation.

Antimonene remains stable and unreactive under ambient conditions.

DFT predicts a band gap of 1.2-1.3 eV for monolayer antimonene.

Abstract

Using mechanical exfoliation combined with a controlled double step transfer procedure we demonstrate that single layers of antimony can be readily produced. These flakes are not significantly contaminated upon exposure to ambient conditions and they do not react with water. DFT calculations confirm our experimental observations and predict a band gap of 1.2-1.3 eV (ambient conditions) for single layer antimonene, which is smaller than that calculated under vacuum conditions at 0 K. Our work confirms antimonene as a highly stable 2D material with promising relevant applications in optoelectronics.