Scientists unravel new insights into promising semiconductor material

In two separate studies led by Professor Andrew Wee and Assistant Professor Andrivo Rusydi from the Department of Physics at the NUS Faculty of Science, the researchers uncovered the role of oxygen in MoS₂, and a novel technique to create multiple tunable, inverted optical band gaps in the material. These novel insights deepen the understanding of the intrinsic properties of MoS₂ which could potentially transform its applications in the semiconductor industry.

The studies were published in scientific journals Physical Review Letters and Nature Communications respectively.

MoS₂ -- An alternative to graphene

MoS₂ is a semiconductor-like material that exhibits desirable electronic and optical properties for the development and enhancement of transistors, photodetectors and solar cells.

Prof Wee explained, "MoS₂ holds great industrial importance. With an atomically thin two-dimensional structure and the presence of a 1.8eV energy band gap, MoS₂ is a semiconductor that can offer broader applications than graphene which lacks a band gap."

Presence of oxygen alters the electronic and optical properties of MoS₂

In the first study published in Physical Review Letters on 16 August 2017, NUS researchers conducted an in-depth analysis which revealed that the energy storage capacity or dielectric function of MoS₂ can be altered using oxygen.

The team observed that MoS₂ displayed a higher dielectric function when exposed to oxygen. This new knowledge shed light on how adsorption and desorption of oxygen by MoS₂ can be employed to modify its electronic and optical properties to suit different applications. The study also highlights the need for adequate consideration of extrinsic factors that may affect the properties of the material in future research.

The first author of this paper is Dr Pranjal Kumar Gogoi from the Department of Physics at NUS Faculty of Science.

MoS₂ can possess two tunable optical band gaps

In the second study published in Nature Communications on 7 September 2017, the team of NUS researchers discovered that as opposed to conventional semiconductors which typically have only one optical band gap, electron doping of MoS₂ on gold can create two unusual optical band gaps in the material. In addition, the two optical bandgaps in MoS₂ are tunable via a simple, straight forward annealing process.

The research team also identified that the tunable optical band gaps are induced by strong-charge lattice coupling as a result of the electron doping.

The first author of this second paper is Dr Xinmao Yin from the Department of Physics at NUS Faculty of Science.

The research findings from the two studies lend insights to other materials that possess similar structure with MoS₂.

"MoS₂ falls under a group of material known as the two-dimensional transitional metal dihalcogenides (2D-TMDs) which are of great research interest because of their potential industrial applications. The new knowledge from our studies will assist us in unlocking the possibilities of 2D-TMD-based applications such as the fabrication of 2D-TMD-based field effect transistors," said Asst Prof Rusydi.

Leveraging the findings of these studies, the researchers will apply similar studies to other 2D-TMDs and to explore different possibilities of generating new, valuable properties in 2D-TMDs that do not exist in nature.