Electronic properties and circuit applications of networks of electrochemically exfoliated 2D nanosheets

High aspect-ratio 2D materials are promising for solution-processed electronics, yet the factors controlling exfoliation remain unclear and relatively few solution-processed networks have been electrically characterized. Here we combine theory and experiment to show that electrochemical exfoliation of layered crystals with sufficient stiffness-anisotropy (in-plane/out-of-plane Young's modulus ratio >1.7) yields high aspect-ratio nanosheets with intrinsic mobilities μ<sub>NS</sub> = 20-75 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹ across transition metal dichalcogenides and related alloys. Impedance spectroscopy indicates that solution-deposited networks can achieve junction-to-nanosheet resistance ratios (R<sub>J</sub>/R<sub>NS</sub>) as low as ~3, supporting theoretical predictions that μ<sub>NS</sub>/μ<sub>Net</sub> = R<sub>J</sub>/R<sub>NS</sub> + 1 and suggesting that further reductions in R<sub>J</sub> will increase μ<sub>Net</sub> toward the nanosheet limit (μ<sub>NS</sub>). These networks display n-type, p-type, and ambipolar behaviour, with on/off ratios up to 10⁵ and mobilities μ<sub>Net</sub> = 13 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹. Here, we show that such high-performing 2D materials enable functional solution-processed circuits, including inverters, buffers, a 4-bit digital-to-analog converter, and a circuit capable of encoding and decoding 7-bit ASCII messages.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-10-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64100-y
Citations
2
Primary Topic
2D Materials and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.04

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article

Electronic properties and circuit applications of networks of electrochemically exfoliated 2D nanosheets

Nicola Marzari, Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Jan Plutnar, Luca Anzi et al.
2 citations
Nature Communications
2D Materials and Applications
1.04
article

Electronic properties and circuit applications of networks of electrochemically exfoliated 2D nanosheets

Nicola Marzari, Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Jan Plutnar, Luca Anzi, Mark McCrystall, Joseph Neilson, Jonathan N. Coleman, Changpeng Lin, Rebekah A. Wells, Emmet Coleman, Roman Sordan, Tian Carey, Kevin Synnatschke, Iva Plutnarová, Eoin Caffrey, Zdeněk Sofer, Anthony Dawson, Shixin Liu, Goutam Ghosh
article en
2 citations

Abstract

High aspect-ratio 2D materials are promising for solution-processed electronics, yet the factors controlling exfoliation remain unclear and relatively few solution-processed networks have been electrically characterized. Here we combine theory and experiment to show that electrochemical exfoliation of layered crystals with sufficient stiffness-anisotropy (in-plane/out-of-plane Young's modulus ratio >1.7) yields high aspect-ratio nanosheets with intrinsic mobilities μ<sub>NS</sub> = 20-75 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹ across transition metal dichalcogenides and related alloys. Impedance spectroscopy indicates that solution-deposited networks can achieve junction-to-nanosheet resistance ratios (R<sub>J</sub>/R<sub>NS</sub>) as low as ~3, supporting theoretical predictions that μ<sub>NS</sub>/μ<sub>Net</sub> = R<sub>J</sub>/R<sub>NS</sub> + 1 and suggesting that further reductions in R<sub>J</sub> will increase μ<sub>Net</sub> toward the nanosheet limit (μ<sub>NS</sub>). These networks display n-type, p-type, and ambipolar behaviour, with on/off ratios up to 10⁵ and mobilities μ<sub>Net</sub> = 13 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹. Here, we show that such high-performing 2D materials enable functional solution-processed circuits, including inverters, buffers, a 4-bit digital-to-analog converter, and a circuit capable of encoding and decoding 7-bit ASCII messages.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Trinity College Dublin (IE), Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (IE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (CZ), Politecnico di Milano (IT), Delft University of Technology (NL)
National Science Foundation, Graphene Flagship, European Commission, Science Foundation Ireland, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, Irish Research Council, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, National Center of Competence in Research Materials’ Revolution: Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials
Openalex Percentile: Top 22%
2D Materials and Applications
1.04
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