Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
10:41
Preparation of Liquid-exfoliated Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets with Controlled Size and Thickness: A State of the Art Protocol
Published on: December 20, 2016
14.5K
Atomic Insights into Phase Evolution in Ternary Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides Nanostructures
Yi-Chao Zou1, Zhi-Gang Chen1,2, Shijian Liu1
1Materials Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 3, 2018
Summary
Phase engineering in transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is crucial for novel devices. This study reveals atomic mechanisms of phase evolution in Mo1-xWxTe2 nanostructures, uncovering a new phase aiding T
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) possess tunable properties via phase engineering, essential for advanced electronic and photonic devices.
- The atomic-scale mechanisms governing phase transitions in TMDs remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the atomic-scale mechanisms of phase evolution in chemical vapor deposition-grown Mo1-xWxTe2 nanostructures.
- To investigate the coexistence of different phases and identify mediating phases in multinary TMDs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized advanced electron microscopy for atomic-resolution imaging and electron diffraction.
- Employed density functional theory calculations to complement experimental observations.
Main Results:
- Identified two primary phases in Mo1-xWxTe2: a pure monoclinic phase (low W concentration) and a dual monoclinic-orthorhombic phase (high W concentration).
- Discovered a novel orthorhombic phase (Td') that mediates phase coexistence with coherent interfaces.
- The Td' phase preserves centrosymmetry and offers a low-energy pathway for T'→Td phase transitions.
Conclusions:
- This research deepens the atomic-scale understanding of phase evolution and coexistence in multinary compounds like Mo1-xWxTe2.
- The findings pave the way for designing novel TMD phases and heterostructures for advanced device applications.
Related Concept Videos
02:58Properties of Transition Metals
30.0K
Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.
30.0K
02:31Phase Transitions
23.3K
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to...
23.3K
02:33Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition
20.3K
Some solids can transition directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state, via a process known as sublimation. At room temperature and standard pressure, a piece of dry ice (solid CO2) sublimes, appearing to gradually disappear without ever forming any liquid. Snow and ice sublimate at temperatures below the melting point of water, a slow process that may be accelerated by winds and the reduced atmospheric pressures at high altitudes. When solid iodine is warmed, the solid sublimes...
20.3K
02:39Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
15.3K
Heating a crystalline solid increases the average energy of its atoms, molecules, or ions, and the solid gets hotter. At some point, the added energy becomes large enough to partially overcome the forces holding the molecules or ions of the solid in their fixed positions, and the solid begins the process of transitioning to the liquid state or melting. At this point, the temperature of the solid stops rising, despite the continual input of heat, and it remains constant until all of the solid is...
15.3K
02:39Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
21.5K
The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
21.5K
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K