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Research Highlight

Atomistic origins of thermolysis-driven growth of 2D MoS2

Atomistic origins of thermolysis-driven growth of 2D MoS2
Atomic-resolution in situ STEM observations of thermolysis-driven growth of 2D MoS2 during heating of amorphous (NH4)2MoS4.

Scientific Achievement

The growth mechanism of 2D MoS2 from amorphous precursors is revealed using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM).

Significance and Impact

Understanding and controlling the transformation from amorphous precursors into crystalline 2D materials provide new insights for large-scale, high-quality materials synthesis.

Research Details

  • In situ STEM provides atomic-resolution insight into transformations from 25 – 800°C; both e-beam-induced and thermal effects can be studied.
  • Dynamic studies reveal important phenomena such as phase transformations to eliminate grain boundaries and oriented attachment between separated grains.

X. Sang, X. Li, A. A. Puretzky, D. B. Geohegan, K. Xiao, and R. R. Unocic, Adv. Funct. Mater. 1902149, (2019). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201902149