One-dimensional structures in nanoconfinement

Abstract

Exploring the structure of low dimensional materials is a key step towards a complete understanding of condensed matter. In recent years, due to the fast developing of research tools, novel structures of many elements have been reported, revealing the possibility of new properties. Refining the investigation of one-dimensional atomic chain structures have thus received a great amount of attention in the field of condensed matter physics, materials science and chemistry. In this paper, we review the recent advances in the study of confined structures under nanometer environments. We mainly discuss the most interesting structures revealed and the experimental and theoretical methods adopted in these researches, and we also briefly discuss the properties related to the new structures. We particularly focus on elemental materials, which show the richness of one-dimensional structures in vacuum and in nanoconfinement. By understanding the binding and stability of various structures and their properties, we expect that one-dimensional materials should attract a broad range of interests in new materials discovery and new applications. Moreover, we reveal the challenges in accurate theoretical simulations of one-dimensional materials in nanoconfinement, and we provide an outlook of how to overcome such challenges in the future.

Integrating 2D layered materials with 3D bulk materials as van der Waals heterostructures for photodetections: Current status and perspectives

“…However, when the number of layers is reduced to one, they will be converted to direct bandgap semiconductors. More importantly, apart from the layer‐dependent bandgap, their physical and chemical properties can also be adjusted through strategies such as vacancy engineering, phase engineering, heteroatom doping, and alloying different 2D TMDC nanosheets 2 . The suitable bandgaps, tunable properties and strong light‐matter interaction and other diverse properties endow TMDCs a great potential for optoelectronics.…”

“…More importantly, apart from the layerdependent bandgap, their physical and chemical properties can also be adjusted through strategies such as vacancy engineering, phase engineering, heteroatom doping, and alloying different 2D TMDC nanosheets. 2 The suitable bandgaps, tunable properties and strong light-matter interaction and other diverse properties endow TMDCs a great potential for optoelectronics. Mechanical exfoliation, CVD, thermally assisted conversion (TAC), PLD, and other methods have been developed over the past few years to prepare large size and high-quality TMDC for photodetectors with high responsivity and sensitivity.…”

“…In contrast to three‐dimensional (3D) semiconductor materials, 2DLMs have many unique physical properties. First, due to the atom level thicknesses of 2DLMs, the free motion of electrons in 2DLMs is intensively confined in a 2D plane, which induces many strange physical phenomena, like quantum confinement effect 2–4 . Additionally, the energy bandgaps of 2DLMs can be modulated by controlling their thicknesses or applying external field and/or strain 5–7 .…”

“…First, due to the atom level thicknesses of 2DLMs, the free motion of electrons in 2DLMs is intensively confined in a 2D plane, which induces many strange physical phenomena, like quantum confinement effect. [2][3][4] Additionally, the energy bandgaps of 2DLMs can be modulated by controlling their thicknesses or applying external field and/or strain. [5][6][7] Third, the huge specific surface areas and strong in-plane covalent bonds enable 2DLMs to strongly interact with incident light and exhibit great mechanical flexibility and bending resistance.…”

Recent progresses on ion beam irradiation induced structure and performance modulation of two-dimensional materials

“…In the past two decades, two-dimensional (2D) materials, including the well-known graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs, e.g., MoS 2 , MoSe 2 , and WS 2 ), black phosphorus, and boron nitride, have triggered significant advances in the nanomaterial community. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] These atomic-scale layered structures exhibit unparalleled theoretical properties including mechanical, electrical, optical, thermal, and acoustic properties, endowing tremendous application potential in the areas of electronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, energy storage devices, sensors, and environmental science. [11][12][13][14][15] However, although the field of 2D materials has developed at an accelerated rate, the fundamental science remains far from being exhausted because new theories and applications of 2D materials have continuously emerged.…”