Periodic Reporting for period 4 - VANDER (Search for New Phenomena, Materials and Applications Using Van Der Waals Assembly of Individual Atomic Planes)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-11-01 do 2025-04-30
Many layered materials can be disassembled into isolated atomic planes, like graphite that can be split into monolayers called graphene. Such individual atomic planes – two-dimensional (2D) crystals – can then be stacked on top of each other in a desired sequence to make new bulk materials that do not exist in nature. Such designer materials are called van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. This possibility has been discovered only a decade ago, which has ignited a whole new field that is currently booming and delivering exciting and unexpected science.
The fundamental challenge addressed by this project lies in exploring and understanding these artificially assembled materials, which offer unprecedented opportunities to create materials with designer properties not found in nature. This is important for society because these assemblies of 2D materials hold immense potential for applications in clean energy technologies, next-generation electronics, advanced filtration systems, and hydrogen-based energy solutions. For example, our findings about proton-conducting membranes are relevant for fuel cell technologies, while our findings on atomic-scale filtration could improve water purification and gas separation processes.
This ERC project was aimed at pushing the frontiers of vdW heterostructures research by making them more sophisticated, more controlled and more functional. Our main objectives were to explore new phenomena and physics in these artificial materials, develop advanced functional materials with unique properties, and investigate the vast landscape of opportunities within the field of 2D materials and vdW heterostructures. We also aimed to develop new experimental techniques for studying materials, create atomic-scale capillaries for molecular transport studies, and search for 2D crystals with exotic properties.
These objectives were successfully delivered through numerous publications in top-tier journals including Nature and Science, establishing interactions with industry, and providing an exceptional training environment for the next generation of researchers in this rapidly expanding field.
The fundamental challenge addressed by this project lies in exploring and understanding these artificially assembled materials, which offer unprecedented opportunities to create materials with designer properties not found in nature. This is important for society because these assemblies of 2D materials hold immense potential for applications in clean energy technologies, next-generation electronics, advanced filtration systems, and hydrogen-based energy solutions. For example, our findings about proton-conducting membranes are relevant for fuel cell technologies, while our findings on atomic-scale filtration could improve water purification and gas separation processes.
This ERC project was aimed at pushing the frontiers of vdW heterostructures research by making them more sophisticated, more controlled and more functional. Our main objectives were to explore new phenomena and physics in these artificial materials, develop advanced functional materials with unique properties, and investigate the vast landscape of opportunities within the field of 2D materials and vdW heterostructures. We also aimed to develop new experimental techniques for studying materials, create atomic-scale capillaries for molecular transport studies, and search for 2D crystals with exotic properties.
These objectives were successfully delivered through numerous publications in top-tier journals including Nature and Science, establishing interactions with industry, and providing an exceptional training environment for the next generation of researchers in this rapidly expanding field.
Our progress has been rather remarkable, exceeding our expectations. The project results have been reported in high-profile open access publications including 20 Nature and Science group publications, demonstrating the significant impact and quality of our research outcomes.
First, we found that many 2D materials can be highly transparent for protons but remain impermeable for all gases and liquids (Nature Nano 2019, Nature Communications 2019a). Clean-energy technologies based on hydrogen are built around membranes that require such selective properties. We found that 2D crystals, especially monolayers of mica, offer superior performance compared to existing materials. This work has attracted considerable industrial interest, with several companies exploring licensing opportunities for fuel cell applications.
Second, we established fundamental limits on gas permeability of 2D crystals. Despite being only one atom thick, monolayers of graphene or boron nitride are found to be so highly impermeable that it would take the lifetime of the Universe for a gas atom to pierce them under ambient conditions (Nature 2020a). This finding has important implications for barrier applications and gas separation technologies.
Third, we addressed water condensation inside small pores, which is responsible for many phenomena including friction, adhesion, lubrication and corrosion. Under typical ambient humidity of 30-50%, pores must be of true atomic scale to cause water condensation. We created 2D empty spaces from one to a few atoms in height and studied capillary condensation inside them (Nature 2020b), providing new fundamental understanding of nanoscale-fluid behavior.
Fourth, we reported several new electron transport phenomena in graphene-based vdW heterostructures (Nature 2020c, Nature 2021, Nature Electronics 2019, Nature Communications 2019b, 2020a-b, 2021), advancing our understanding of quantum transport.
First, we found that many 2D materials can be highly transparent for protons but remain impermeable for all gases and liquids (Nature Nano 2019, Nature Communications 2019a). Clean-energy technologies based on hydrogen are built around membranes that require such selective properties. We found that 2D crystals, especially monolayers of mica, offer superior performance compared to existing materials. This work has attracted considerable industrial interest, with several companies exploring licensing opportunities for fuel cell applications.
Second, we established fundamental limits on gas permeability of 2D crystals. Despite being only one atom thick, monolayers of graphene or boron nitride are found to be so highly impermeable that it would take the lifetime of the Universe for a gas atom to pierce them under ambient conditions (Nature 2020a). This finding has important implications for barrier applications and gas separation technologies.
Third, we addressed water condensation inside small pores, which is responsible for many phenomena including friction, adhesion, lubrication and corrosion. Under typical ambient humidity of 30-50%, pores must be of true atomic scale to cause water condensation. We created 2D empty spaces from one to a few atoms in height and studied capillary condensation inside them (Nature 2020b), providing new fundamental understanding of nanoscale-fluid behavior.
Fourth, we reported several new electron transport phenomena in graphene-based vdW heterostructures (Nature 2020c, Nature 2021, Nature Electronics 2019, Nature Communications 2019b, 2020a-b, 2021), advancing our understanding of quantum transport.
Our results have been widely disseminated through international conferences, invited lectures, and extensive media coverage. The research has led to patents and ongoing discussions with industrial partners for potential commercialization, particularly in hydrogen technologies and advanced filtration systems.