Facile topotactic conversion routes towards novel functional materials

该项目的目的是利用最近开发的一种新的合成协议，用于使用氧化物向过渡金属硫属化物（TMC）的拓扑转化来制造二维（2D）材料。该技术的一个关键优势是它依赖于氧化物薄膜的制造，这是一种成熟的技术，因此它们可以在任意选择的基底上常规地转化为大面积的TMC涂层。最终的目标是调查几个潜在的应用所制造的薄膜。首先，与莫兰博士合作，（工程学院），目的是开发纳米和微米尺度的二维和三维图案的原子薄TMD薄膜，以证明：（a）介观结构化的2D TMD可以使表面上的光吸收能够实现改善的电催化和光催化活性，以及（B）测试预-图案化的材料以诱导钉扎效应并防止在析氢条件下膜从衬底上剥离。在Moran博士的监督下，新的超导系统，具有改进的开/关比的场效应晶体管（FET）和光电发射探测器将作为研究的第二股开发。

The aim of the project is to capitalise on the recent development of a novel synthesis protocol for the fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) materials using topotactic conversion of oxides to transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs). A key advantage of the technique is that it relies on the fabrication of oxide thin films, which is a mature technology, so they could be routinely converted to large-area coatings of the TMCs on an arbitrary substrate of choice. The ultimate goal is to investigate several potential applications for the fabricated films. Firstly, in collaboration with Dr. Moran (School of Engineering), the aim is to develop nano- and micro-scale 2D and 3D patterning of the atomically thin TMD films in order to demonstrate: (a) that mesostructured 2D TMDs can enable the light absorption on the surface to achieve improved electrocatalytic and photocatalytic activities and (b) to test fabrication of pre-patterned materials to induce pinning effect and prevent peeling of the film from a substrate under hydrogen evolution conditions. Under supervision Dr. Moran novel superconducting systems, field effect transistors (FETs) with improved on / off ratio and photoemission detectors will be developed as a second strand of the research.