Two-Dimensional Growth of Free-Standing Nanosheets and Heterostructures by Ionic Layer Epitaxy
Abstract
The scientific objective of this proposal is to understand the nucleation and growth mechanisms of nanosheets of various materials such as oxides. chalcogenides, metals, and their heterostruclures at a water-air interface guided by surfactant monolayers and thereby achieve a rational control over the thickness and the grain size of these nanosheets. The Pl has obtained encouraging preliminary results in developing a novel aqueous solution based synthesis technique (Ionic layer epilaxy) (IPE) in a STIR project. In this process, he demonstrated that surfactant monolayers could enable processing of ultrathin (a few nm thick) ZnO (two dimensional) nanosheets at a water- air interface. In the current proposal. he proposes to conduct experiments to understand the kinetics that control the thickness and the grain size of these layers and also extend this process to other classes of materials such as oxides (CuO. Fe2O3. and CeO2), metals (Ag, Cu, Pt, Pd ) and chalcogenides (MoS2). In addition. growth of heterostructures (lateral and vertical) will also be investigated to determine if ILE can be applied to synthesize these complex structures. The strength of the electric field build by the ionic surfactant layer, the ionic strength of the bulk phase, pH of precursor solutions. etc. will be varied systematically to understand the nucleation and growth process. Also transmission electron microscopy. atomic force microscopy, etc. techniques will be utilized to investigate the structure of the materials that are synthesized by this technique.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610198
Entities
People
- Xudong Wang
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Wisconsin–Madison