En ny familj av tvådimensionella (2D) material genom teori och avancerad materialsyntes

For sustainable societal development, there is a need for new materials with unprecedented properties.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are currently a playground for great discoveries, typically realized by mechanical exfoliation (cleaving) of 3D crystals.

Chemical exfoliation, i.e. removal of atomic layers in a 3D structure, is a more recent breakthrough in the synthesis of 2D materials.

Here, I initiate a project with a mission to understand and exploit wider classes of such 2D derivatives: Using theoretical screening procedures, I will explore the chemical exfoliation potential of a family laminated 3D silicides, identified from initial evaluation of exfoliation energies for selected compounds.

Preliminary results suggest that 3D YRu2Si2 can be exfoliated, to form a 2D material after removal of Y. Initial experimental efforts confirm these results.

YRu2Si2 is part of a family of structurally equivalent silicides, which will now be subject to theoretical and experimental exploration, targeting novel 2D materials.

Selected materials from the simulations will be experimentally verified through powder-based bulk synthesis followed by tailored chemical etching procedures. Realized 2D materials will be characterized, and subject to tests for catalytic and (opto)electronic applications.

Research breakthroughs are envisioned, as the present project moves beyond traditional boundaries of 2D materials in terms of atomic elements/structures explored and synthesis methods used.