Solution-Processable Electronic-Grade 2D WTe<sub>2</sub> Enabled by Synergistic Dual Ammonium Intercalation
Tungsten ditelluride (WTe<sub>2</sub>) exhibits thickness-dependent properties, including magnetoresistance, ferroelectricity, and superconductivity, positioning it as an ideal candidate for nanoelectronics and spintronics. Therefore, the scalable synthesis of WTe<sub>2</sub> with defined thicknesses down to the monolayer limit is crucial for unlocking these properties. Here, we introduce a universal electrolyte chemistry utilizing dual-ammonium compounds to exfoliate WTe<sub>2</sub>, enabling precise control over the intercalation stages and flake thicknesses. This approach achieves an 86% exfoliation yield, producing high-quality flakes averaging 2.83 nm in thickness, in which approximately 10% are monolayers. A solution-processed, single-flake device (10 nm thick) exhibits a magnetoresistance (MR) of 50% at 2 K and 9 T, and piezo-response force microscopy (PFM) indicates ferroelectricity in WTe<sub>2</sub> flakes. Additionally, large-area WTe<sub>2</sub> thin films (15 × 15 mm<sup>2</sup>), fabricated using Langmuir-Schaefer deposition, exhibit metallic behavior with a high conductivity of 2.9 × 10<sup>4</sup> S/m. Overall, the hybrid electrolyte approach facilitates the scalable synthesis of high-quality, solution-processable, two-dimensional (2D) WTe<sub>2</sub> flakes with excellent properties. This versatility of the developed method has been further exemplified through the exfoliation of other transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g., MoS<sub>2</sub> and MoSe<sub>2</sub>), expanding the potential for the extensive application of exfoliated 2D materials in printable and flexible nanoelectronics.
Authors
- Jiho Yoon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1412-7227)
- Hossein Mirhosseini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6179-1545)
- Ilka Hermes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5659-1290)
- Ahiud Morag (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8666-7006)
- S. Parkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4702-6139)
- Christof Neumann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3598-7656)
- Kevin Synnatschke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7018-9396)
- Sheng Hsiung Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1869-3100)
- Andrey Turchanin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2388-1042)
- Thomas D. Kühne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5471-2407)
- Ali Shaygan Nia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6481-3727)
- Xinliang Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3885-2703)
- Xiaodong Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9628-329X)
- Hyejung Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4114-0428)
Institutions
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (DE)
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (DE)
- Institute of Art (PL)
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research (DE)
- Center for Advancing Health (US)
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (DE)
- Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (Canada) (CA)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (DE)
- Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Nano
- Published
- 2025-04-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c01224
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- 2D Materials and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.55
Funders
- Graphene Flagship
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality
- European Research Council