Highly-anisotropic 1D van der Waals lattices: A new paradigm towards functional materials and energy conversion in low-dimensions
Abstract
Low-dimensional solids at the nanoscale have radically transformed ways with which electronic charges, photons, magnetic spins, and heat can be transported in devices with miniaturized footprints and form-factors. Such devices have disrupted and revolutionized not only the modern computing, data storage/transmission, health, and sensing technologies, but have also changed the way with which waste and renewable energy sources (e.g. solar, mechanical, thermal) can be translated into useful and beneficial forms. Of these functional low-dimensional materials classes, one-dimensional (1D) nanowires have attracted immense attention due to the drastic enhancement of electronic, thermal, and optical properties and transport in these nanoscale crystals. These come as a direct consequence of the extremely small cross-sectional dimensions (from 100 nm down to 10 nm), the long-range crystalline ordering along the 1D axis, and the highly pronounced morphological anisotropy. As such, 1D nanowires have become primary building blocks of highly efficient energy-harvesting platforms from photovoltaic cells, piezoelectric devices, to even thermoelectric generators. However, with the demands of modern industries such as Òindustry 4.0Ó or the Òinternet of thingsÓ, the race towards smaller and ultra-miniaturized energy-harnessing platforms which can operate in conjunction with several other functional devices in a compact assembly has become a crucial driving force to search for the ultimate miniaturized functional materials. Herein, we propose a unique ultra-small materials paradigm which combines strategies developed in top-down exfoliated two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) lattices and a new class of solid state lattices which, instead of sheets, are comprised of sub-nanometer chains that are predominantly bound by vdW forces. This unique materials class will introduce a new class of low-dimensional solids which bridges the definition of what an extended lattice and a molecular material can be. The one-dimensional nature, down to the individual building blocks in this new class of low-dimensional materials, the sub-nanometer 1D chains introduces a new avenue towards realizing strong lattice anisotropies that will greatly influence how electronic charges and spins, photons, and heat/phonons interact with and transport through the 1D lattice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110124
Entities
People
- Mircea Dincă
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- United States Army