Single Layer FeS2 and NiS2 - New 2D materials

The scope of this proposal is to investigate a class of 2D materials based on Fe and Ni that neither exist in nature as free-standing atomically layers, nor as a thicker mineral compound. These transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) that cannot be obtained by equilibrium growth methods or be exfoliated from the bulk, but may only be synthesized directly in their 2D form by combined PVD/CBE growth on a suitable substrate like Au(111). The proposal will explore the synthesis strategies for these new 2D materials and characterize their structure in situ using Grazing Incidence Surface X-ray Diffraction (GI-SXRD), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and electron diffraction techniques. We expect these newly synthesized 2D TMDCs to exhibit new physico-chemical properties such as catalytic, magnetic, piezoelectric, optical and electronic conduction properties.