ABSTRACT
Chemical vapor deposition and growth dynamics of highly anisotropic 2D lateral heterojunctions between pseudo-1D ReS2 and isotropic WS2 monolayers are reported for the first time. Constituent ReS2 and WS2 layers have vastly different atomic structure, crystallizing in anisotropic 1T' and isotropic 2H phases, respectively. Through high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and angle-resolved Raman spectroscopy, this study is able to provide the very first atomic look at intimate interfaces between these dissimilar 2D materials. Surprisingly, the results reveal that ReS2 lateral heterojunctions to WS2 produce well-oriented (highly anisotropic) Re-chains perpendicular to WS2 edges. When vertically stacked, Re-chains orient themselves along the WS2 zigzag direction, and consequently, Re-chains exhibit six-fold rotation, resulting in loss of macroscopic scale anisotropy. The degree of anisotropy of ReS2 on WS2 largely depends on the domain size, and decreases for increasing domain size due to randomization of Re-chains and formation of ReS2 subdomains. Present work establishes the growth dynamics of atomic junctions between novel anisotropic/isotropic 2D materials, and overall results mark the very first demonstration of control over anisotropy direction, which is a significant leap forward for large-scale nanomanufacturing of anisotropic systems.
ABSTRACT
Recent studies have shown that vapor phase synthesis of structurally isotropic two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 and WS2 produces well-defined domains with clean grain boundaries (GBs). This is anticipated to be vastly different for 2D anisotropic materials like ReS2 mainly due to large anisotropy in interfacial energy imposed by its distorted 1T crystal structure and formation of signature Re-chains along [010] b-axis direction. Here, we provide first insight on domain architecture on chemical vapor deposited (CVD) ReS2 domains using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, angle-resolved nano-Raman spectroscopy, reflectivity, and atomic force microscopy measurements. Results provide ways to achieve crystalline anisotropy in CVD ReS2, establish domain architecture of high symmetry ReS2 flakes, and determine Re-chain orientation within subdomains. Results also provide a first atomic resolution look at ReS2 GBs, and surprisingly we find that cluster and vacancy defects, formed by collusion of Re-chains at the GBs, dramatically impact the crystal structure by changing the Re-chain direction and rotating Re-chains 180° along their b-axis. Overall results not only shed first light on domain architecture and structure of anisotropic 2D systems but also allow one to attain much desired crystalline anisotropy in CVD grown ReS2 for the first time for tangible applications in photonics and optoelectronics where direction-dependent dichroic and linearly polarized material properties are required.
