Atomically engineering interlayer symmetry operations of two-dimensional crystals
Crystal symmetry, which governs the local atomic coordination and bonding environment, is one of the paramount constituents that intrinsically dictate materials' functionalities. However, engineering crystal symmetry is not straightforward due to the isotropically strong covalent/ionic bonds in crystals. Layered two-dimensional materials offer an ideal platform for crystal engineering because of the ease of interlayer symmetry operations. However, controlling the crystal symmetry remains challenging due to the ease of gliding perpendicular to the Z direction. Herein, we proposed a substrate-guided growth mechanism to atomically fabricate AB'-stacked SnSe<sub>2</sub> superlattices, containing alternating SnSe<sub>2</sub> slabs with periodic interlayer mirror and gliding symmetry operations, by chemical vapor deposition. Some higher-order phases such as 6 R, 12 R, and 18 C can be accessed, exhibiting modulated nonlinear optical responses suggested by first-principle calculations. Charge transfer from mica substrates stabilizes the high-order SnSe<sub>2</sub> phases. Our approach shows a promising strategy for realizing topological phases via stackingtronics.
Authors
- Fengyuan Xuan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0624-882X)
- Youwen Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8587-7818)
- Xiaoxu Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9746-3770)
- Xiaocang Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8458-5568)
- Jiahuan Zhou
- Dechao Geng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6224-6426)
- Wenping Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5686-2740)
- Shengqiang Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3302-5445)
- Jingsi Qiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6464-5500)
- Yuan Meng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5409-5610)
- Qing Hua Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6595-8995)
- Lin Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3430-7345)
- Junxiang Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8452-8029)
- Huang Chun
- Ziyi Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9456-9948)
Institutions
- Beijing Institute of Technology (CN)
- Tianjin University (CN)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (CN)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin (CN)
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-12-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55130-z
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.94
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
- Peking University
- Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences