Collaborative Research: Properties and Synthesis of Atomically Thin Molybdenum Disulfide

技术支持：这项合作研究项目旨在推进科学知识和原子级薄二硫化钼的合成。该研究将阐明这种新材料的独特物理特性，包括其电子特性（能带结构及其对掺杂的响应），光学特性（吸收，光致发光和光电导性），振动特性（声子频率和寿命）及其电输运特性（不同制度下的迁移率和门控）。主要研究人员的目标是开发一种方法，用于通过铜表面的硫负载，然后暴露于钼的序列来合成原子级薄的二硫化钼层。如果成功的话，该研究项目将导致实际的方法来生产大面积样品的二硫化钼在其原子级薄的形式和控制掺杂。非技术：该项目解决的基础研究问题，在一个热门领域的材料科学与高技术相关性。这项研究阐明了半导体单层极限的行为（与石墨烯相反，石墨烯是一种半金属，没有能隙），有助于我们对纳米级材料的一般理解，并为这种材料和相关材料系统在电子学和光电子学中的未来应用奠定了基础。研究生和本科生在跨学科的环境中接受培训。该项目还促进两个学术机构的科学家之间的合作，其中一个是经认证的少数群体服务机构。

Technical: This collaborative research project aims to advance both scientific knowledge and synthesis of molybdenum disulfide in its atomically thin form. The research will elucidate the distinctive physical characteristics of this new material, including its electronic properties (band structure and its response to doping), optical properties (absorption, photoluminescence, and photoconductivity), vibrational properties (phonon frequencies and lifetimes), and its electrical transport properties (mobility and gating in different regimes). The principal investigators aim to develop a method for the synthesis of atomically thin MoS2 layers by a sequence of sulfur-loading of a copper surface followed by exposure to molybdenum. If successful, the research project will lead to practical methods to produce large-area samples of molybdenum disulfide in its atomically thin form and with controlled doping.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. The research elucidates the behavior in the single-layer limit of a semiconductor (as opposed to graphene, which is a semimetal and has no energy gap), contributes to our general understanding of materials on the nanoscale, and creates the basis for future applications of this and related material systems in electronics and optoelectronics. Graduate and undergraduate students are trained in an interdisciplinary environment. The project also promotes collaboration of scientists in two academic institutions with one of them being an accredited Minority Serving Institution.