2D Materials Can Now be Controlled with Redox Reactions

Researchers at the Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) Department of Chemistry have discovered that redox reactions can be used to control the properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials.  Redox reactions between water and oxygen molecules in the air drive an electrochemical reaction within 2D materials that dopes them with charges from the surrounding environment.  For this experiment, graphene and tungsten disulfide were analyzed, using Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence imaging respectively, to demonstrate this phenomenon on the nanoscale.  Key material properties such as the magnetic, optical, and electrical nature of the materials were all controllable via redox manipulation.  Now that an understanding has been realized, redox based treatments can be used to more accurately develop low-dimensional materials for flexible electronics, high-speed transistors, advanced battery technology, ultralight materials, and wide variety other 2D semiconductor applications.

Figure 1: Structure of graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms.  Source: Wikipedia.

Graphene products are available for purchase at MSE Supplies.  The products available include graphene CVD films (monolayer or multi-layer) and graphene oxide (dry powder or dispersion in water) for either research or industrial production purposes.  Substrates for the graphene films include copper, silicon, SiO₂, quartz, or PET.

Sputtering targets that enable thin film deposition for a variety of materials can be found at MSE Supplies.  There is a comprehensive catalog of metals, alloys, ceramics and more with guaranteed high purity and several customization options to meet customer requirements.

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6468/eaan8285/tab-pdf

Image Source: AlexanderAlUS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]