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 076203Quantum 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