Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform
Published on: August 2, 2019
Quantum wells formed in transition-metal dichalcogenide nanosheet-superlattices: stability and electronic structures
Xiangying Su1, Ruizhi Zhang, Chongfeng Guo
1Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology and Department of Physics, National Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Technology and Functional Materials (Culture Base) in Shaanxi Province, National Photoelectric Technology and Functional Materials & Application of Science and Technology International Cooperation Base, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China. guocf@nwu.edu.cn zhangrz@nwu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
The possibility of forming quantum wells (QWs) in transition-metal dichalcogenide nanosheet assembled superlattices (SLs) was investigated by using the first principles calculations. The interfacial binding energies and electronic structures of MoS2/MX2 (MX2 = MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2) SLs were calculated. The interfacial binding energies show that all the SLs are stable, and the most stable atomic configuration is that where M atoms are located right above S atoms. By calculating the band offsets in the SLs, it was found that a QW with a depth of 0.17 eV can be formed in the MoS2 layer in MoS2/WSe2 SLs. The calculated band structure shows that this SL has an indirect band gap due to the tensile strained state of the MoS2 layer. The charge transfer between the two layers is very small, which is in favor of the QWs' formation. In particular, the depth of the QW in the SLs can be adjusted by strain engineering, which can be attributed to the different strain dependencies of the two materials' band gaps. These findings will guide the choice of future nanosheet assembled SLs to work on and suggest a new route to facilitate the design of QW based optoelectronic devices.
More Related Videos
10:41Preparation of Liquid-exfoliated Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets with Controlled Size and Thickness: A State of the Art Protocol
Published on: December 20, 2016
08:50Preparation of Large-area Vertical 2D Crystal Hetero-structures Through the Sulfurization of Transition Metal Films for Device Fabrication
Published on: November 28, 2017
Related Concept Videos
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
02:42Valence Bond Theory
02:58Properties of Transition Metals
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than...
04:00Periodic Classification of the Elements
03:02Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...