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Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment
Published on: July 5, 2019
Theory of 2D crystals: graphene and beyond
Rafael Roldán1, Luca Chirolli, Elsa Prada
1Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, ICMM-CSIC, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain. rroldan@icmm.csic.es.
Abstract:
This tutorial review presents an overview of the basic theoretical aspects of two-dimensional (2D) crystals. We revise essential aspects of graphene and the new families of semiconducting 2D materials, like transition metal dichalcogenides or black phosphorus. Minimal theoretical models for various materials are presented. Some of the exciting new possibilities offered by 2D crystals are discussed, such as manipulation and control of quantum degrees of freedom (spin and pseudospin), confinement of excitons, control of the electronic and optical properties with strain engineering, or unconventional superconducting phases.
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