Fabrication and characterization of two-dimensional materials and nanostructured surfaces

In 2004 graphene, i.e. one single atomic layer of carbon atoms arranged according to a honeycomb structure, was successfully isolated. The perfectly two-dimensional (2D) graphene has unique electronic properties, including surprisingly high charge carrier mobility. Graphene also has excellent mechanical properties: it is a very strong material and at the same time extremely flexible. More recently, other 2D materials with similar honeycomb atomic structure such as 2D silicon, i.e., silicene have been synthesized. The 2D materials promise to be useful in areas such as high-speed electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, energy storage and new (flexible) materials.

The new equipment allows synthesizing new 2D materials by self-assembly in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Scanning probes are available for measuring “in situ” in UHV the atomic structure as well as the unique functional properties of the 2D materials down to low temperatures and in the presence of a magnetic field. The optical response can be obtained as well with very high spatial resolution. The final aim is to tune the functional properties by optimizing the atomic-scale structure.