Bottom-Up Growth of Monolayer Honeycomb SiC
Journal article, 2023

The long theorized two-dimensional allotrope of SiC has remained elusive amid the exploration of graphenelike honeycomb structured monolayers. It is anticipated to possess a large direct band gap (2.5 eV), ambient stability, and chemical versatility. While sp2 bonding between silicon and carbon is energetically favorable, only disordered nanoflakes have been reported to date. Here we demonstrate large-area, bottom-up synthesis of monocrystalline, epitaxial monolayer honeycomb SiC atop ultrathin transition metal carbide films on SiC substrates. We find the 2D phase of SiC to be almost planar and stable at high temperatures, up to 1200 °C in vacuum. Interactions between the 2D-SiC and the transition metal carbide surface result in a Dirac-like feature in the electronic band structure, which in the case of a TaC substrate is strongly spin-split. Our findings represent the first step towards routine and tailored synthesis of 2D-SiC monolayers, and this novel heteroepitaxial system may find diverse applications ranging from photovoltaics to topological superconductivity.

Author

Craig Michael Polley

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

2D-Tech

MAX IV Laboratory

H. Fedderwitz

MAX IV Laboratory

T. Balasubramanian

MAX IV Laboratory

A. A. Zakharov

MAX IV Laboratory

Rositsa Yakimova

Linköping University

Olof Bäcke

Chalmers, Physics, Microstructure Physics

Jenny Ekman

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory

Saroj Prasad Dash

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

2D-Tech

Sergey Kubatkin

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Samuel Lara Avila

2D-Tech

National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Physical Review Letters

0031-9007 (ISSN) 1079-7114 (eISSN)

Vol. 130 7 076203

Quantum criticality and new quantum matter in two-dimensional Dirac materials

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2021-05252), 2022-01-01 -- 2025-12-31.

2D material-based technology for industrial applications (2D-TECH)

GKN Aerospace Sweden (2D-tech), 2021-01-01 -- 2024-12-31.

VINNOVA (2019-00068), 2020-05-01 -- 2024-12-31.

Novel two-dimensional systems: from growth to applications

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (RMA15-0024), 2016-05-01 -- 2021-06-30.

Epitaxiell grafen för metrologi, sensorer och elektronik

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (GMT14-0077), 2016-01-01 -- 2020-12-31.

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.076203

PubMed

36867809

More information

Latest update

2/12/2024