Laser Shock-Induced Nano-Twist of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Mechanical strain, such as stretching, compression, bending, and rotation, significantly alters the photonic and electronic properties of 2D materials. The laser shock process, which allows 2D materials to deform at an ultrahigh strain rate, is a promising technology for alleviating the low strain transfer efficiency caused by the low interfacial bonding strength of the layered 2D materials. However, the mechanical strain introduced by shock waves is currently limited to uniaxial compression or bending deformation, and the monotonic strain patterns constrain the strain diversity and performance expansion space of 2D materials. This work proposed a novel strategy for nano-twist manufacturing using laser shock processing, based on partial interfacial decoupling behavior. Apart from the conventional uniaxial strain, we demonstrated experimentally and theoretically that the manufacturing of nano-twist allows the introduction of interlayer tensile and rotational strains in TMDCs. The microstructure and properties of the strained 2D materials were investigated. Furthermore, the dynamic deformation response of WSe₂ during the shock process was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. The correlation between the laser shock-induced dynamic loading process, interfacial behavior, and deformation behavior of 2D materials was comprehensively explored. The primary contribution of this study lies in the introduction of diversified strain modes through nano-twist manufacturing by the laser shock process, which is expected to provide a convenient nano-twist fabrication process for the strain engineering and twistronics fields.