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Giant Transport Anisotropy in ReS_{2} Revealed via Nanoscale Conducting-Path Control
Dawei Li1, Shuo Sun1, Zhiyong Xiao1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0299, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|October 8, 2021
Summary
Researchers achieved giant transport anisotropy in rhenium disulfide (ReS₂) using ferroelectric control. This breakthrough enables directional conducting paths in 2D materials for advanced electronic applications.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Layered 1T'-ReS₂ exhibits low in-plane symmetry, leading to strong band anisotropy.
- Observing this anisotropy in electronic properties is difficult due to challenges in controlling local current paths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reveal giant transport anisotropy in monolayer to few-layer ReS₂.
- To demonstrate nanoscale ferroelectric control for creating directional conducting paths.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing nanoscale ferroelectric control by reversing the polarization of a ferroelectric polymer top layer.
- Inducing conductivity switching in ReS₂ channels at room temperature (300 K).
- Characterizing domain-defined conducting nanowires within an insulating background.
Main Results:
- Achieved a conductivity switching ratio exceeding 1.5×10⁸ in ReS₂ channels.
- Observed a conductivity ratio over 5.5×10⁴ along and perpendicular to the Re chain in monolayer ReS₂.
- Theoretical modeling confirmed the band origin of the transport anomaly and identified a flat band in few-layer ReS₂.
Conclusions:
- Ferroelectric control effectively creates directional conducting paths in ReS₂, revealing giant transport anisotropy.
- The findings highlight the potential of ReS₂ for novel collective phenomena and electron lensing.
- This work provides a pathway for utilizing highly anisotropic 2D materials in future electronic devices.
