CPM Seminar

Visibility of nanolayered crystals and their applications

Mohamed Malik Benameur

École Polytechnique de Lausanne

The discovery of graphene has opened new research directions towards two dimensional crystals. Here, we present dichalcogenide layered materials with the common formula MX₂ whose electrical properties range from semiconducting to superconducting. We describe optimal imaging conditions for the optical detection of ultrathin, two-dimensional dichalcogenide nanocrystals containing single, double and triple layers of MoS₂, WSe₂ and NbSe₂. Using AFM and optical imaging we confirm that single layers of MoS₂ and WSe₂ can be detected on 90 nm and 270 nm SiO₂ using optical means. We observe and discuss discrepancies in the case of NbSe₂. Potential applications in electronics and biology will be presented and discussed.