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Title: Schottky-barrier-free contacts with two-dimensional semiconductors by surface-engineered MXenes

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.6b10834· OSTI ID:1347423
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)

Two-dimensional (2D) metal carbides and nitrides, called MXenes, have attracted great interest for applications such as energy storage. Here we demonstrate their potential as Schottky-barrier-free metal contacts to 2D semiconductors, providing a solution to the contact-resistance problem in 2D electronics. Based on first principles calculations, we find that the surface chemistry strongly affects the Fermi level of MXenes: O termination always increases the work function with respect to that of bare surface, OH always decreases it, while F exhibits either trend depending on the specific material. This phenomenon originates from the effect of surface dipoles, which together with the weak Fermi level pinning, enable Schottky-barrier-free hole (or electron) injection into 2D semiconductors through van der Waals junctions with some of the O-terminated (or all the OH-terminated) MXenes. Furthermore, we suggest synthetic routes to control the surface terminations based on the calculated formation energies. Lastly, this study enhances the understanding of the correlation between surface chemistry and electronic/transport properties of 2D materials, and also gives practical predictions for improving 2D electronics.

Research Organization:
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014607; AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1347423
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1347424
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 138, Issue 49; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 382 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Versatile Crystal Structures and (Opto)electronic Applications of the 2D Metal Mono‐, Di‐, and Tri‐Chalcogenide Nanosheets journal March 2019
Electronic Properties of Armchair Black Phosphorene Nanoribbons Edge-Modified by Transition Elements V, Cr, and Mn journal April 2019
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