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Cryogenic Exfoliation of Non-layered Magnesium into Two-Dimensional Crystals
Chen Zhang1, Yingfeng Xu2,3, Ping Lu1
1State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Physical exfoliation of layered precursors is one of the most prevailing techniques to prepare two-dimensional (2D) crystals, which, however, is considered to be intrinsically inapplicable to non-layered bulks. Now, plane cleavage differentiation is identified in metallic magnesium at cryogenic temperature (CT), and a cryogenic exfoliation strategy of non-layered magnesium into 2D crystals is developed. The cleavage anisotropy of the Mg lattice in response to the external mechanical stress originates from the CT-induced specific inactivation of basal slip, which results in the basal cleavage perpendicular to c axis. The exfoliated novel 2D Mg crystals exhibit remarkable localized surface plasmon resonances, holding great promise for the applications in harvesting and converting solar energy. Beyond creating a new member for the burgeoning 2D family, this study may provide a useful tool for the physical exfoliations of various non-layered materials.
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