Tailoring atomic 1T phase CrTe₂forin situfabrication

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• Controlling the phase-structure relationship of 1T-phase two-dimensional (2D) materials is crucial for nanodevice applications.
• In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allows atomic-resolution monitoring and regulation of 2D material nanostructure evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To controllably tailor 1T-phase chromium ditelluride (CrTe2) nanopores using in situ TEM.
• To investigate the atomic-scale mechanisms of nanopore formation and healing in 1T-CrTe2.
• To apply machine learning for efficient analysis of TEM data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for atomic-scale observation and manipulation.
• Employed controllable tailoring of 1T-CrTe2 nanopores by regulating crystal face transformations ({1010} and {1120}).
• Applied deep-learning-based image segmentation for automated nanopore identification in TEM images.

Main Results:

• Achieved controllable tailoring of 1T-CrTe2 nanopores with preferred border structure formation.
• Observed and studied the nanopore healing process at the atomic scale.
• Demonstrated high-efficiency automated TEM image analysis with a DICE metric of 93.17% using deep learning.

Conclusions:

• Presented unique structure evolution insights for 1T-phase 2D materials.
• Established computer-aided, high-efficiency TEM data analysis using deep learning.
• Showcased techniques applicable to other materials for nanostructure regulation and analysis.