We report on spin transport in WS2-based 2D-magnetic tunnel junctions (2D-MTJs), unveiling a band structure spin filtering effect specific to the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) family. WS2 mono-, bi-, and trilayers are derived by a chemical vapor deposition process and further characterized by Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The WS2 layers are then integrated in complete Co/Al2O3/WS2/Co MTJ hybrid spin-valve structures. We make use of a tunnel Co/Al2O3 spin analyzer to probe the extracted spin-polarized current from the WS2/Co interface and its evolution as a function of WS2 layer thicknesses. For monolayer WS2, our technological approach enables the extraction of the largest spin signal reported for a TMDC-based spin valve, corresponding to a spin polarization of P Co/WS2 = 12%. Interestingly, for bi- and trilayer WS2, the spin signal is reversed, which indicates a switch in the mechanism of interfacial spin extraction. With the support of ab initio calculations, we propose a model to address the experimentally measured inversion of the spin polarization based on the change in the WS2 band structure while going from monolayer (direct bandgap) to bilayer (indirect bandgap). These experiments illustrate the rich potential of the families of semiconducting 2D materials for the control of spin currents in 2D-MTJs.

printing is gaining importance as a sustainable route for the fabrication of high-performance energy storage devices. It enables the streamlined manufacture of devices with programmable geometry at different length scales down to micron-sized dimensions. Miniaturized energy storage devices are fundamental components for on-chip technologies to enable energy autonomy. In this work, we demonstrate 3D printed microsupercapacitor electrodes from aqueous inks of pristine graphene without the need of high temperature processing and functional additives. With an intrinsic electrical conductivity of ∼1370 S m −1 and rationally designed architectures, the symmetric microsupercapacitors exhibit an exceptional areal capacitance of 1.57 F cm −2 at 2 mA cm −2 which is retained over 72% after repeated voltage holding tests. The areal power density (0.968 mW cm −2 ) and areal energy density (51.2 μWh cm −2 ) outperform the ones of previously reported carbon-based supercapacitors which have been either 3D or inkjet printed. Moreover, a current collector-free interdigitated microsupercapacitor combined with a gel electrolyte provides electrochemical performance approaching the one of devices with liquid-like ion transport properties. Our studies provide a sustainable and low-cost approach to fabricate efficient energy storage devices with programmable geometry.

van der Waals atomically thin magnetic materials have been recently discovered.

Splitting salt water via sunlight into molecular oxygen and hydrogen for use as fuel or as an energy carrier is a clear pathway toward renewable energy. Monolayer MoS 2 and WS 2 are promising materials for the energetically demanding water oxidation reaction, absorbing ∼10% of incident light in the visible spectrum and possessing chemical stability and band edges more positive than the oxidation potential of water. A heterostructure of MoS 2 /WS 2 forms a type-II heterojunction, supporting fast separation of the photogenerated charge carriers across the junction. Here, we show the role played by defects in determining the efficiency of the photon-driven oxidation process. By reducing the defects in this material system, it is possible to obtain an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of ∼1.6% and a visible-light-driven photocurrent density of 1.7 mA/cm 2 for water oxidation. The efficiency is one order of magnitude higher than that of photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen reduction and water oxidation supported by liquid-phase exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). This result has been achieved with chemically vapor deposited (CVD) MoS 2 /WS 2 heterojunctions, in the form of 100 μm large flakes assembled to form thin films. The large flakes sizes, compared to liquid-phase exfoliated materials (normally <5 μm), and thus the low edge flake density, and the flakes' atomically sharp and clean interfaces between the flakes are responsible for reducing charge carrier recombination. These results show a general approach to the scalable synthesis of high-crystal-quality lowdimensional semiconductor photoelectrodes for solar energy conversion systems. It also shows the uniqueness of the CVD synthesis process of these materials, which can lead to high quality materials without the need of any postsynthesis treatments.

We demonstrate the enhanced robustness of the supercurrent through graphene-based Josephson junctions in which strong spin-orbit interactions (SOIs) are induced. We compare the persistence of a supercurrent at high out-of-plane magnetic fields between Josephson junctions with graphene on hexagonal boron-nitride and graphene on WS 2 , where strong SOIs are induced via the proximity effect. We find that in the shortest junctions both systems display signatures of induced superconductivity, characterized by a suppressed differential resistance at a low current, in magnetic fields up to 1 T. In longer junctions, however, only graphene on WS 2 exhibits induced superconductivity features in such high magnetic fields, and they even persist up to 7 T. We argue that these robust superconducting signatures arise from quasiballistic edge states stabilized by the strong SOIs induced in graphene by WS 2 .