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Here, we propose a method to determine the thickness of the most common transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) placed on the surface of transparent stamps, used for the deterministic placement of two-dimensional materials, by analyzing the red, green and blue channels of transmission-mode optical microscopy images of the samples. In particular, the blue channel transmittance shows a large and monotonic thickness dependence, making it a very convenient probe of the flake thickness. The method proves to be robust given the small flake-to-flake variation and the insensitivity to doping changes of MoS2. We also tested the method for MoSe2, WS2 and WSe2. These results provide a reference guide to identify the number of layers of this family of materials on transparent substrates only using optical microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research field of two dimensional (2D) materials strongly relies on optical microscopy characterization tools to identify atomically thin materials and to determine their number of layers. Moreover, optical microscopy-based techniques opened the door to study the optical properties of these nanomaterials. We presented a comprehensive study of the differential reflectance spectra of 2D semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, with thickness ranging from one layer up to six layers. We analyzed the thickness-dependent energy of the different excitonic features, indicating the change in the band structure of the different TMDC materials with the number of layers. Our work provided a route to employ differential reflectance spectroscopy for determining the number of layers of MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designer heterostructures can now be assembled layer-by-layer with unmatched precision thanks to the recently developed deterministic placement methods to transfer two-dimensional (2D) materials. This possibility constitutes the birth of a very active research field on the so-called van der Waals heterostructures. Moreover, these deterministic placement methods also open the door to fabricate complex devices, which would be otherwise very difficult to achieve by conventional bottom-up nanofabrication approaches, and to fabricate fully-encapsulated devices with exquisite electronic properties. The integration of 2D materials with existing technologies such as photonic and superconducting waveguides and fiber optics is another exciting possibility. Here, we review the state-of-the-art of the deterministic placement methods, describing and comparing the different alternative methods available in the literature, and we illustrate their potential to fabricate van der Waals heterostructures, to integrate 2D materials into complex devices and to fabricate artificial bilayer structures where the layers present a user-defined rotational twisting angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method to carry out electrical and optoelectronic measurements on 2D materials using carbon fiber microprobes to directly make electrical contacts with the 2D materials without damaging them. The working principle of this microprobing method is illustrated by measuring transport in MoS2 flakes in vertical (transport in the out-of-plane direction) and lateral (transport within the crystal plane) configurations, finding performances comparable to those reported for MoS2 devices fabricated by the conventional lithographic process. We also show that this method can be used with other 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we study the optoelectronic properties of individual TiO2 fibres produced through coupled sol–gel and electrospinning, by depositing them onto pre-patterned Ti/Au electrodes on SiO2/Si substrates. Transport measurements in the dark give a conductivity above 2 × 10−5 S, which increases up to 8 × 10−5 S in vacuum. Photocurrent measurements under UV-irradiation show high sensitivity (responsivity of 90 A W−1 for 375 nm wavelength) and a response time to illumination of ∼5 s, which is superior to state-of-the-art TiO2-based UV photodetectors. Both responsivity and response speed are higher in air than in vacuum, due to oxygen adsorbed on the TiO2 surface which traps photoexcited free electrons in the conduction band, thus reducing the recombination processes. The photodetectors are sensitive to light polarization, with an anisotropy ratio of 12%. These results highlight the interesting combination of large surface area and low 1D transport resistance in electrospun TiO2 fibres. The simplicity of the sol–gel/electrospinning synthesis method, combined with a fast response and high responsivity makes them attractive candidates for UV-photodetection in ambient conditions. We anticipate their high (photo) conductance is also relevant for photocatalysis and dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated large-area atomically thin MoS2 layers through the direct transformation of crystalline molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) by sulfurization at relatively low temperatures. The obtained MoS2 sheets are polycrystalline (~10–20 nm single-crystal domain size) with areas of up to 300 × 300 µm2, 2–4 layers in thickness and show a marked p-type behavior. The synthesized films are characterized by a combination of complementary techniques: Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electronic transport measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskites are known to suffer from rapid degradation, limiting their direct applicability. Here, the degradation of phenethylammonium lead iodide (PEA2PbI4) two-dimensional perovskites under ambient conditions was studied using fluorescence, absorbance, and fluorescence lifetime measurements. It was demonstrated that the long-term stability of two-dimensional perovskites could be achieved through the encapsulation with hexagonal boron nitride. While un-encapsulated perovskite flakes degraded within hours, the encapsulated perovskites were stable for at least three months. In addition, encapsulation considerably improved the stability under laser irradiation. The environmental stability, combined with the improved durability under illumination, is a critical ingredient for thorough spectroscopic studies of the intrinsic optoelectronic properties of this material platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium selenide (GaSe) is a novel 2D material, which belongs to the layered III–VIA semiconductors family and attracted interest recently as it displays single‐photon emitters at room temperature and strong optical nonlinearity. Nonetheless, few‐layer GaSe is not stable under ambient conditions and it tends to degrade over time. Here atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and optoelectronic measurements are combined in photodetectors based on thin GaSe to study its long‐term stability. It is found that the GaSe flakes exposed to air tend to decompose forming first amorphous selenium and Ga2Se3 and subsequently Ga2O3. While the first stage is accompanied by an increase in photocurrent, in the second stage, a decrease in photocurrent is observed, which leads to the final failure of GaSe photodetectors. Additionally, it is found that the encapsulation of the GaSe photodetectors with hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) can protect the GaSe from degradation and can help to achieve long‐term stability of the devices. The degradation of thin GaSe in air is a complex process that involves photooxidation and generates various byproducts such as elemental selenium and Ga2O3. This degradation has profound influences on the optoelectronic properties of devices based on this layered material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research field of two dimensional (2D) materials strongly relies on optical microscopy characterization tools to identify atomically thin materials and to determine their number of layers. Moreover, optical microscopy-based techniques opened the door to study the optical properties of these nanomaterials. We presented a comprehensive study of the differential reflectance spectra of 2D semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, with thickness ranging from one layer up to six layers. We analyzed the thickness-dependent energy of the different excitonic features, indicating the change in the band structure of the different TMDC materials with the number of layers. Our work provided a route to employ differential reflectance spectroscopy for determining the number of layers of MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Extremely clean synthesis of tailored graphenic structures on TiO 2. • Formation of Ti O C bonds in the interface of carbon-TiO 2 hybrid material. • High photocurrent density demonstrates efficient charge transfer. The successful application of titanium oxide-graphene hybrids in the fields of photocatalysis, photovoltaics and photodetection strongly depends on the interfacial contact between both materials. The need to provide a good coupling between the enabling conductor and the photoactive phase prompted us to directly grow conducting graphenic structures on TiO 2 crystals. We here report on the direct synthesis of tailored graphenic structures by using Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition that present a clean junction with the prototypical titanium oxide (1 1 0) surface. Chemical analysis of the interface indicates chemical bonding between both materials. Photocurrent measurements under UV light illumination manifest that the charge transfer across the interface is efficient. Moreover, the influence of the synthesis atmosphere, gas precursor (C 2 H 2) and diluents (Ar, O 2), on the interface and on the structure of the as-grown graphenic material is assessed. The inclusion of O 2 promotes vertical growth of partially oxidized carbon nanodots/rods with controllable height and density. The deposition with Ar results in continuous graphenic films with low resistivity (ρ = 6.8 · 10−6 Ω·m). The synthesis protocols developed here are suitable to produce tailored carbon-semiconductor structures on a variety of practical substrates as thin films, pillars or nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated large-area atomically thin MoS 2 layers through the direct transformation of crystalline molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) by sulfurization at relatively low temperatures. The obtained MoS 2 sheets are polycrystalline (~10-20 nm single-crystal domain size) with areas of up to 300 × 300 µm 2 , 2-4 layers in thickness and show a marked p-type behavior. The synthesized films are characterized by a combination of complementary techniques: Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electronic transport measurements.

Spatially periodic structures with a long-range period, referred to as a moiré pattern, can be obtained in van der Waals bilayers in the presence of a small stacking angle or of lattice mismatch between the monolayers. Theoretical predictions suggest that the resulting spatially periodic variation of the band structure modifies the optical properties of both intra- and interlayer excitons of transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures. Here, we report on the impact of the moiré pattern formed in a MoSe 2 /MoS 2 heterobilayer encapsulated in hexagonal boron nitride. The periodic in-plane potential results in a splitting of the MoSe 2 exciton and trion in emission and (for the exciton) absorption spectra. The observed energy difference between the split peaks is fully consistent with theoretical predictions.

The research field of two dimensional (2D) materials strongly relies on optical microscopy characterization tools to identify atomically thin materials and to determine their number of layers. Moreover, optical microscopy-based techniques opened the door to study the optical properties of these nanomaterials. We presented a comprehensive study of the differential reflectance spectra of 2D semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂, with thickness ranging from one layer up to six layers. We analyzed the thickness-dependent energy of the different excitonic features, indicating the change in the band structure of the different TMDC materials with the number of layers. Our work provided a route to employ differential reflectance spectroscopy for determining the number of layers of MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, MAPbX 3 (X = halogen), containing methylammonium (MA: CH 3 -NH 3 + ) in the large voids conformed by the PbX 6 octahedral network, are the active absorption materials in the new generation of solar cells. CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 is a promising member with a large band gap that gives rise to a high open circuit voltage. A deep knowledge of the crystal structure and, in particular, the MA conformation inside the perovskite cage across the phase transitions undergone below room temperature, seems essential to establish structure-property correlations that may drive to further improvements. The presence of protons requires the use of neutrons, combined with synchrotron XRD data that help to depict subtle symmetry changes undergone upon cooling. We present a consistent picture of the structural features of this fascinating material, in complement with photocurrent measurements from a photodetector device, demonstrating the potential of MAPbBr 3 in optoelectronics.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials are particularly appealing for many applications. Although theory predicts a large number of 2D materials, experimentally only a few of these materials have been identified and characterized comprehensively in the ultrathin limit. Lead iodide, which belongs to the transition metal halides family and has a direct bandgap in the visible spectrum, has been known for a long time and has been well characterized in its bulk form. Nevertheless, studies of this material in the nanometer thickness regime are rather scarce. In this article we demonstrate an easy way to synthesize ultrathin, highly crystalline flakes of PbI 2 by precipitation from a solution in water. We thoroughly characterize the produced thin flakes with different techniques ranging from optical and Raman spectroscopy to temperature-dependent photoluminescence and electron microscopy. We compare the results to ab initio calculations of the band structure of the material. Finally, we fabricate photodetectors based on PbI 2 and study their optoelectronic properties.

We study mechanically exfoliated nanosheets of franckeite by quantitative optical microscopy. The analysis of transmission-mode and epi-illumination-mode optical microscopy images provides a rapid method to estimate the thickness of the exfoliated flakes at first glance. A quantitative analysis of the optical contrast spectra by means of micro-reflectance allows one to determine the refractive index of franckeite over a broad range of the visible spectrum through a fit of the acquired spectra to a model based on the Fresnel law.