Atom-by-atom imaging of moiré transformations in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides

Tuesday publication update! With this newest published research atomic-scale mechanisms were observed on 2D materials using our #FusionAX system! The authors imaged, atom-by-atom, the thermally induced structural evolution of twisted bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides using in situ transmission electron microscopy.

The authors used short 0.5-s heat pulses from 100° to 1000°C and took STEM images in between to reduce thermal drift. It was observed at low temperatures that the moiré superlattices morphed into nanoscale aligned domains. It was observed that this process started by nucleating a new grain within one monolayer, its crystal orientation intricately templated by the other.

Unexpectedly, the aligned domains grow through a mesmerizing dance of collective rotation of moiré supercells and the graceful hopping of 5|7 defect pairs at moiré boundaries. These observations offer unprecedented mechanistic insight into the atomic-scale interactions that govern moiré structures, illuminating the potential to pattern interfacial structure and properties of two-dimensional materials at the nanoscale.

These research results can be correlated to inconsistent and heterogeneous properties measured in moiré based devices. This can then lead to new synthesis, bottom-up routes, designing structures to control and pattern the twist angle on the nanoscale.

Want to read the entire research paper?
Find it here!
https://www.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adk1874

#Protochips #FindYourBreakthrough #InSituMicroscopy #ElectronMicroscopy #MaterialsScience #AtomicScaleInsights