Collaborative Research: Properties and Synthesis of Atomically Thin Molybdenum Disulfide

技术：这一合作研究项目旨在提高科学知识和合成原子形式的二硫化钼。这项研究将阐明这种新材料独特的物理特性，包括它的电子特性(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)以及它的电传输特性(不同区域的迁移率和门控)。主要研究人员的目标是开发一种方法，通过在铜表面加硫，然后暴露在钼中来合成原子薄的MoS2层。如果成功，该研究项目将产生实用的方法，以原子薄的形式生产大面积的二硫化钼样品，并控制掺杂。非技术性：该项目解决了材料科学中具有高度技术相关性的热门领域的基础研究问题。这项研究阐明了半导体(与石墨烯不同，石墨烯是半金属，没有能隙)在单层极限中的行为，有助于我们对纳米级材料的总体理解，并为该材料及相关材料体系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。该项目还促进了两个学术机构的科学家之间的合作，其中一个是认可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.