Liquid metal provides intriguing opportunity for two-dimensional (2D) material synthesis due to its naturally atomically smooth and reactive surface. By careful selection of appropriate liquid metal and aqueous or organic precursor solution, a reactive liquid-liquid interface can be utilized to template a wide range of 2D materials. In this work, a large area 2D molybdenum sulfide sheet was synthesized on the surface of eutectic alloy of gallium and indium (EGaIn) droplet, with aqueous solution of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate ((NH4)2MoS4) as precursor. In this reaction, EGaIn serves as both a reducing agent and an atomically smooth template. The deposited materials are transferrable onto desired substrate using a touch-transferring process.About the presenter
Yifang Wang is a PhD student working with Prof Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh at UNSW. Yifang has a Masters in inorganic chemistry (South China University of Technology), focusing on the room-temperature synthesis of 2D-materials via interfacial reactions such as between liquid metal and air. “By conducting this research project, we hope to offer a new paradigm for 2D material preparation,” says Yifang, who works in FLEET’s Research theme 1: topological materials and Enabling technology B: nano-device fabrication.