EPI2SEM: EPItaxial growth and in-situ analysis of 2-dimensional SEMiconductors

21世纪材料和设备的逐步微型化使得重要的发现和广泛的基础和应用现象成为可能。但未来的进步和应对全球挑战的创新解决方案需要转向变革性的材料系统和集成技术。在这里，我们建议在诺丁汉大学建立一个设施（EPI 2SEM）的外延生长和原位分析的新一代的2维半导体的基础上金属硫族化物。它们独特的电子性质（可调能带结构、IR-VIS-UV宽光吸收、电子相关性、高电子迁移率等）和多功能性，适用于广泛的应用（数字柔性电子、光电子、量子技术、能源等）在全世界引起了极大的兴趣然而，为了使这些新材料满足学术界和工业界的需求，必须解决一些挑战，包括它们的可控可扩展增长，先进技术的研究以及复杂器件架构的集成。EPI 2SEM将为英国社区提供独特的能力，在清洁的超高真空系统中以原子层精度生长半导体，具有完全表征的电子，化学和形态学特性，用于多个研究学科的进步。EPI 2SEM将实现半导体的变革性小型化和功能化，以促进凝聚态物质（量子材料），制造（新工艺和设计），量子技术（安全，传感，通信），纳米技术（低能耗，多样化，集成），表面物理学（传感，催化，能量转换）。这些领域的进展是若干研究学科（工程、医学、化学、生物学等）健康发展的关键。为繁荣的成果做出贡献。英国经济未来的竞争力取决于科学创新;通过基础设施创新及时应对全球变化/挑战的能力;高技能和训练有素的科学家和技术人员的可用性;以及利用新技术和材料提供更好生活质量的灵活性。该提案有可能在这些领域提供创新，解决社会面临的几个挑战。特别是，EPI 2SEM将有助于解决EPSRC的“21世纪材料”优先事项。2013年，大卫威利茨宣布了八大技术，将推动英国未来的增长。这包括“先进材料和纳米技术”，导致成立了亨利罗伊斯研究所（NGI）和国家石墨烯研究所（NGI）。HRI/NGI的研究支柱之一是“2D材料”，但其制造方法需要开发。新设备将提出实现长期愿景所需的关键步骤，并使具有战略重要性的研究领域受益，如2018年政府产业战略白色文件所述。

The progressive miniaturization of materials and devices in the 21st century has enabled important discoveries and access to a wide range of phenomena of fundamental and applied interest. But future progress and innovative solutions to global challenges require a shift towards transformative material systems and integration technologies. Here we propose to establish at the University of Nottingham a facility (EPI2SEM) for the EPItaxial growth and in-situ analysis of a new generation of 2-dimensional SEMiconductors based on metal chalcogenides. Their unique electronic properties (tuneable band structure, IR-VIS-UV broad optical absorption, electron correlations, high electron mobility, etc.) and versatility for a wide range of applications (digital flexible electronics, optoelectronics, quantum technologies, energy, etc.) have attracted a surge of interest worldwide. However, for these new materials to meet academia and industry needs, several challenges must be addressed, including their controlled scalable growth, investigation by advanced techniques, and integration in complex device architectures. EPI2SEM will provide the UK community with a unique capability for the development of semiconductors grown with atomic layer precision in a clean ultra high vacuum system with fully-characterised electronic, chemical and morphological properties for advances across several research disciplines. EPI2SEM will enable the transformative miniaturization and functionalization of semiconductors for advances in condensed matter (quantum materials), manufacturing (new processes and designs), quantum technologies (security, sensing, communication), nanotechnologies (low-energy consumption, diversification, integration), surface physics (sensing, catalysis, energy conversion). Progress in these areas is key to the health of several research disciplines (engineering, medicine, chemistry, biology, etc.) contributing towards prosperity outcomes. The future competitiveness of the UK economy relies on innovation in science; ability to respond timely to global changes/challenges through innovation in infrastructure; the availability of highly-skilled and trained scientists and technologists; and flexibility to exploit novel technologies and materials to deliver better quality of life. This proposal has the potential to deliver innovation across these areas, addressing several challenges facing society. In particular, EPI2SEM will contribute to address the EPSRC priority of "21st Century Materials". In 2013, David Willetts announced the Eight Great Technologies that will propel the UK to future growth. This includes "Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology" that led to the establishment of the Henry Royce Institute (NGI) and the National Graphene Institute (NGI). One of the research pillars of the HRI/NGI is "2D Materials", but methods for their manufacturing need to be developed. The new equipment will set out the key steps needed to reach a long-term vision and benefit strategically important research areas, as set out in the 2018 government industrial strategy White paper.