Integration of two-dimensional nanomaterials with functional oxide nanostructures

Cel

The integration of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with non-2D nanostructures is of key technological importance in nanoelectronics and energy applications. Despite this, the atomistic understanding of 2D/non-2D interfacing is critically limited. In particular, functional non-2D metal-oxides need to seamlessly integrate with 2D materials (as e.g. dielectrics, barrier layers, charge transfer dopants or photo-catalysts) but to date 2D/non-2D oxide interfacing has not been addressed on an atomically resolved level. The project proposed here employs atomically-resolved, element-specific, aberration-corrected in-situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques to elucidate the structural, chemical and electronic interactions of scalably chemical vapour deposited 2D nanomaterials (graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, molybdenum disulphide) with device-relevant non-2D metal-oxide nanostructures (e.g. Al2O3, HfO2, MoO3, TiO2). The project links realistic ex-situ 2D/non-2D oxide integration processes (evaporation, sputtering, atomic layer deposition) with dedicated in-situ STEM experiments and complementary spectroscopic fingerprinting (electron energy loss spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). It benefits from a unique combination of the applicant researcher’s extensive experience in in-situ characterisation of 2D materials and the applicant supervisor’s pioneering track record in STEM of 2D materials. The proposed work will establish a holistic picture of 2D/non-2D oxide interactions and thus provide critically required insights towards industrially scalable integration of 2D nanomaterials with non-2D nanostructures.