Multi‐Functional Atomically Thin Oxides from Bismuth Liquid Metal

Abstract

Atomically thin, mechanically flexible, memory‐functional, and power‐generating crystals play a crucial role in the technological advancement of portable devices. However, the adoption of these crystals in such technologies is sometimes impeded by expensive and laborious synthesis methods, as well as the need for large‐scale, mechanically stable, and air‐stable materials. Here, an instant‐in‐air liquid metal printing process utilizing liquid bismuth (Bi) is presented, forming naturally occurring, air‐stable, atomically thin, mechanically flexible nanogenerators and ferroelectric oxides. Despite the centrosymmetric nature of the monoclinic P21/c system of achieved α‐Bi2O3‐δ the high kinetics of liquid metal synthesis leads to the formation of vacancies that disrupt the symmetry which is confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The polarization switching is measured and utilized for ferroelectric nanopatterning. The exceptional attributes of these atomically thin multifunctional stable oxides, including piezoelectricity, mechanical flexibility, and polarizability, present significant opportunities for developing nano‐components that can be seamlessly integrated into a wide range of devices.

Piezoelectric Applications of Low-Dimensional Composites and Porous Materials

“…Laser interferometry, a high-resolution technique, measures the displacement of a piezoelectric material's surface under applied voltage [4,13,20]. Although sensitive, it is costly and susceptible to external vibrations.…”

“…Piezoelectric materials have the ability to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals and vice versa, making them attractive candidates for use in a variety of applications, including sensors, actuators, and energy-harvesting devices [1][2][3][4][5]. The piezoelectric effect, first discovered in 1880, has been widely studied for its potential use in a range of technologies such as piezotronics, sensors, and energy-harvesting devices.…”

“…Numerous review articles have extensively addressed the inherent characteristics of untouched piezoelectric materials, as well as exploring energy harvesting and flexible devices [4,[13][14][15]. Nevertheless, there is a notable scarcity of systematic reviews on the piezoengineering of LD-based composite and porous materials.…”

Atomic engineering of two-dimensional materials via liquid metals

“…Numerous researchers have been dedicated to advancing this field with a continuous stream of related research emerging. 50–52…”

Thickness-Dependent Room-Temperature Optoelectronic Gas Sensing Performances of 2D Nonlayered Indium Oxide Crystals from a Liquid Metal Printing Process

“…While liquid metal reaction media provided exciting new avenues for synthesizing 2D materials. 26 Recent attempts at producing different thicknesses of atomically thin ZnO, 27 InO X , 28 and Bi 2 O 3 29 have been demonstrated to be feasible by controlling time, oxygen content, and printing speed.…”