Novel Polymorph of GaSe

2D GaSe is a semiconductor belonging to the group of post-transition metal chalcogenides with great potential for advanced optoelectronic applications. The weak interlayer interaction in multilayer 2D materials allows the formation of several polymorphs. Here, the first structural observation of a new GaSe polymorph is reported, characterized by a distinct atomic configuration with a centrosymmetric monolayer (D-3d point group). The atomic structure of this new GaSe polymorph is determined by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Density-functional theory calculations verify the structural stability of this polymorph. Furthermore, the band structure and Raman intensities are calculated, predicting slight differences to the currently known polymorphs. In addition, the occurrence of layer rotations, interlayer relative orientations, as well as translation shear faults is discussed. The experimental confirmation of the new GaSe polymorph indicates the importance of investigating changes in the crystal structure, which can further impact the properties of this family of compoundsThis article has received support from the project Nanotechnology Based Functional Solutions (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000019), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Additional support by National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the project "LA2D" -PTDC/FIS-NAN/3668/2014 is acknowledged. This work was supported by FCT, through IDMEC, under LAETA, project UIDB/50022/2020. A. M.-S. thanks the Marie-Curie-COFUND program Nano TRAIN for Growth II (Grant Agreement 713640) and the Ramon y Cajal programme (grant RYC2018-024024-I, MINECO, Spain). This work was carried out in part through the use of the INL Advanced Electron Microscopy, Imaging, and Spectroscopy Facility. The computations were performed on the Tirant III cluster of the Servei d'Informatica of the University of Valencia (project vlc82) and on Mare Nostrum cluster of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (project FI-2020-2-033 and FI-2020-3-0021)

Strain-modulated optical response in 2D MoSe2 made by Na-assisted CVD on glass

Extended investigations on 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have opened sound possibilities to apply these materials in several technological fields such as sensing. To this end, fully reproducible methods for the wafer-scale production of crystalline and uniform 2D TMDCs are in demand. In this work, atomically thin MoSe2 was grown by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition using the Na-assisted process with Se powder and Mo foil precursors on a glass substrate. The samples were extensively characterized via Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The MoSe2 samples consist of submillimeter, monolayer single-crystals with 2H phase configuration. Being monolayer and crystalline, the samples exhibit well-defined and intense photoluminescence. CVD-grown 2D MoSe2 was integrated into a device with strain-tunable optical properties and tested. Under tensile strain (in the range of 0.2%–0.4%), the spectral emission responded to an in-plane strain with marked peak shifts toward lower energies for increasing levels of strain (∼3 and ∼2 nm shift for the main PL component at 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively), indicating a reduction of the bandgap.We acknowledge the financial support of the project “GEMIS—Graphene-enhanced Electro Magnetic Interference Shielding” with Reference No. POCI-01-0247-FEDER-045939, co-funded by COMPETE 2020—Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization and FCT—Science and Technology Foundation, under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund. This work was supported by FCT, through IDMEC-Mechanical Engineering Institute, under LAETA-Associate Laboratory of Energy, Transports and Aeronautics, Project No. UIDB/50022/2020 and via the Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020. We thank Dr. S. Sadewasser and Mr. B. Baumgartner for their assistance in preliminary experiments

Combining Deep Learning and Compressed SensingMethods for the 3D Characterization of Ultra-ThinEpitaxial Layers Grown on Controlled-Shape Nano-Oxides

Using a nanostructured platform (a controlled-shape nano-oxide) and conventional wet impregnation techniques, powder-type materials have been prepared in which atomically thin surface layers are deposited under very mild conditions. More importantly, an advanced methodology, combining energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy-scanning transmission electron tomography (STEM-EDX ET) and deep learning denoising techniques, has been developed for the 3D compositional characterization of these unique nanosystems. The complex case of LaOx-coated CeO2 nanocubes is illustrated. For these, aberration corrected 2D STEM-EDX evidence that ceria nanocubes become covered with a 2–4 atom-thick layer of a La, Ce-mixed oxide with spatially varying composition. However, STEM-EDX ET reveals that this layer distributes unevenly, patching most of the available nanocube surface. The large flexibility and spread availability of the involved synthetic techniques enables, using the tools here developed, a wide exploration of the wealth of questions and applications of these intriguing, atomically thin, surface oxide phases10 página

Properties of graphene deposited on GaN nanowires: influence of nanowire roughness, self-induced nanogating and defects

We present detailed Raman studies of graphene deposited on gallium nitride nanowires with different variations in height. Our results indicate that different density and height of nanowires impact graphene properties such as roughness, strain, and carrier concentration as well as density and type of induced defects. Tracing the manifestation of those interactions is important for the application of novel heterostructures. A detailed analysis of Raman spectra of graphene deposited on different nanowire substrates shows that bigger differences in nanowires height increase graphene strain, while a higher number of nanowires in contact with graphene locally reduces the strain. Moreover, the value of graphene carrier concentration is found to be correlated with the density of nano wires in contact with graphene. The lowest concentration of defects is observed for graphene deposited on nanowires with the lowest density. The contact between graphene and densely arranged nanowires leads to a large density of vacancies. On the other hand, grain boundaries are the main type of defects in graphene on rarely distributed nanowires. Our results also show modification of graphene carrier concentration and strain by different types of defects present in graphene. Therefore, the nanowire substrate is promising not only for strain and carrier concentration engineering but also for defect engineering.This work was partially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in 2015-2019 as a research grant "Diamond Grant" (n degrees. DI2014 015744). The GaN nanowires were grown within the Polish National Science Centre (grants n degrees. UMO-2016/21/N/ST3/03381 and 2016/23/B/ST7/03745). This work was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) under grant n degrees. EOS 30467715

Design and Fabrication of TiO₂/Lignocellulosic Carbon Materials:Relevance of Low-temperature Sonocrystallization to Photocatalysts Performance

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Van Der Waals Heteroepitaxy of GaSe and InSe, Quantum Wells and Superlattices

Bandgap engineering and quantum confinement in semiconductor heterostructures provide the means to fine-tune material response to electromagnetic fields and light in a wide range of the spectrum. Nonetheless, forming semiconductor heterostructures on lattice-mismatched substrates has been a challenge for several decades, leading to restrictions for device integration and the lack of efficient devices in important wavelength bands. Here, we show that the van der Waals epitaxy of two-dimensional (2D) GaSe and InSe heterostructures occur on substrates with substantially different lattice parameters, namely silicon and sapphire. The GaSe/InSe heterostructures were applied in the growth of quantum wells and superlattices presenting photoluminescence and absorption related to interband transitions. Moreover, we demonstrate a self-powered photodetector based on this heterostructure on Si that works in the visible-NIR wavelength range. Fabricated at wafer-scale, these results pave the way for an easy integration of optoelectronics based on these layered 2D materials in current Si technology.Comment: 16 Pages, 5 figures. Supplementary Information included in the end (+10 pages, +10 Figures, + 2 Tables). Partially presented at 21st ICMBE - September 202

A modular design approach to polymer-coated ZnO nanocrystals

Summary: Hybrid materials based on inorganic nanocrystals with organic polymers feature peculiar and fascinating properties and various applications. However, there is still a need for simple synthesis procedures that provide precise control over the polymer/nanocrystal microstructure of these materials. Herein, a novel organometallic approach to polymer-coated ZnO nanocrystals was developed. The presented method merges the initial ring-opening polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone mediated by an organozinc alkoxide initiator and an air-promoted transformation of the resulting macromolecular organozinc species. This one-pot procedure results in quantum-sized ZnO crystals with a core diameter of ca 3 nm coated by poly(ϵ-caprolactone) covalently bonded to the surface. Overall, the ability to create well-defined hybrid composites should provide a unique ability to access various nanosystems