Ion-Assisted Nanoscale Material Engineering in Atomic Layers

TL;DR

This paper introduces an ion-assisted method for precisely engineering the composition and energy landscape of 2D atomic crystals, enabling the creation of complex, nanoscale, multi-compositional materials with customizable optoelectronic properties.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel ion-assisted synthesis technique that allows deterministic control over the composition and structure of 2D materials at the nanoscale, including complex multi-segmented alloys.

Findings

Successfully transformed binary TMDs into ternary alloys with adjustable composition.

Fabricated structures with boundaries as small as 30 nm.

Demonstrated potential for tailored optoelectronic applications.

Abstract

Achieving deterministic control over the properties of low-dimensional materials with nanoscale precision is a long-sought goal. Mastering this capability has a transformative impact on the design of multifunctional electrical and optical devices. Here, we present an ion-assisted synthetic technique that enables precise control over the material composition and energy landscape of two-dimensional (2D) atomic crystals. Our method transforms binary transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), like MoSe$_2$, into ternary MoS$_{2\alpha}$Se$_{2(1-{\alpha}})$ alloys with systematically adjustable compositions, ${\alpha}$. By piecewise assembly of the lateral, compositionally modulated MoS$_{2\alpha}$Se$_{2(1-{\alpha})}$ segments within 2D atomic layers, we present a synthetic pathway towards the realization of multi-compositional designer materials. Our technique enables the fabrication of complex structures with arbitrary boundaries, dimensions as small as 30 nm, and fully customizable energy landscapes. Our optical characterizations further showcase the potential for implementing tailored optoelectronics in these engineered 2D crystals.