(Invited) Van Der Waals Growth and in Situ Studies of Two-Dimensional Pnictogens

Abstract

With their ns2 np3 electron configuration and sp3 hybridization, pnictogens (N, P, As, Sb, Bi) form a unique class of elemental van der Waals (vdW) and two-dimensional (2D) materials. The layered allotropes and the wide range of atomic masses span by pnictogens endows them with a broad spectrum of electronic, optical, and topological properties. For instance, few-layer black phosphorus and arsenic have thickness-dependent direct bands spanning the visible and near infrared, as well anisotropic transport properties. On the other hand, 2D-Sb and 2D-Bi are predicted to exhibit several topological phase transitions near atomic thicknesses, as well as a high-mobility single layer semiconducting phase. Despite the important technological potential of 2D pnictogens, stability and synthesis challenges impede their integration in emerging technologies. This talk presents theoretical and real-time electron microscopy studies of the vdW growth and stability of 2D pnictogens [1-6]. The insights obtained from these studies lay the groundwork for the integration of this new class of 2D materials in emerging electronic, optoelectronic, and quantum technologies.References Fortin-Deschênes, H. Zschiesche, T. O. Menteş, A. Locatelli, R. Jacobberger, F. Genuzio, M. J. Lagos, D. Biswas, C. Jozwiak, J. A. Miwa, S. Ulstrup, A. Bostwick, E. Rotenberg, M. S. Arnold, G. A. Botton, O. Moutanabbir. Pnictogens Allotropy and Phase Transformation during van der Waals Growth. Nano Letters. 2020; 20 (11), 8258-8266.Fortin-Deschênes, O. Waller, Q. An, M. J. Lagos, G. Botton, H. Guo, O. Moutanabbir. 2D Antimony-Arsenic Alloys. Small. 2020; 16, 1906540.Fortin-Deschênes, R. M. Jacobberger, C. A. Deslauriers, O. Waller, É. Bouthillier, M. S. Arnold, O. Moutanabbir. Dynamics of Antimonene–Graphene Van Der Waals Growth. Advanced Materials. 2019; 1900569.Fortin-Deschênes, O. Moutanabbir. Recovering the Semiconductor Properties of the Epitaxial Group V 2D Materials Antimonene and Arsenene. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2018; 122(16), 9162–9168.Fortin-Deschênes, O. Waller, T. O. Mentes, A. Locatelli, S. Mukherjee, F. Genuzio, P. Levesque, A. Hebert, R. Martel, O. Moutanabbir. Synthesis of Antimonene on Germanium. Nano Letters. 2017; 17(8), 4970–4975.Fortin-Deschênes, P. Levesque, R. Martel, O. Moutanabbir. Dynamics and mechanisms of exfoliated black phosphorus sublimation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 2016; 7(9), 1667-1674.