Some 2D materials such as graphene, silicene (different from silicon), black phosphorus and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are electrically and mechanically superior to others.
These materials could create high-speed photodetectors, advanced sensors, high-tech flexible electronics, and solar cells far more efficient than what we use today.
However, currently, scientists do not have the perfect technique to manipulate and process these 2D materials, and this prevents us from exploiting their potential. However, findings from a new study reveal a solution to this problem.
A team of researchers from Finland’s University of Jyväskylä and Serbia-based University of Novi Sad suggest that ultrafast laser processing can help us unlock the potential of 2D materials.
The advantage of ultra-fast laser processing
Currently, 2D materials such as graphene and TMD are manipulated using continuous-wave (CW) and long-pulse optical methods. These methods involve firing beams of light at 2D material surfaces to induce changes in their physical and chemical properties.
However, both continuous-wave and long-pulse methods have a major limitation. When light repeatedly strikes a material in the form of waves or bursts of energy, it results in the generation of heat which, if not managed properly, can damage the material.
This is where ultrafast laser machining can make a big difference. This technique uses ultra-short laser pulses to modify materials with high precision and minimal heat damage.
It can make changes in materials at the nano scale. “Using the synergistic effect between the energy states within the atomic layers and ultrafast laser radiation, it is possible to achieve unprecedented resolutions down to a few nanometers,” the authors of the study point out.
“The ability to manipulate 2D materials at such a fine scale opens up numerous opportunities for the development of new photonic, electronic and sensor applications,” they added.
The technology has not yet left the laboratory
While working at the atomic scale, ultrafast laser machining can effectively enable processes such as exfoliation (flaming), reduction (adding electrons to improve electrical conductivity) and doping (adding impurities to modify the properties of a material) to a 2D material.
These processes are essential for changing the physical and chemical properties of a 2D material, enabling their use in the development of next-generation electronic and photonic devices.
However, ultrafast laser machining is a technique which is still under development. Even in laboratory settings, it involves the use of expensive equipment and has some challenges related to optimization and scaling. “This technology is currently evolving from a laboratory concept to a practical production tool,” the study authors said.
Hopefully, further research will shed light on ways to make this approach more practical and uncover its other unknown merits.
The study is published in the journal Advanced Materials.
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Rupendra Brahmbhatt Rupendra Brahambhatt is an experienced writer, researcher, journalist and filmmaker. With a B.Sc (Hons.) in Science and PGJMC in Mass Communication, he has actively worked with some of the most innovative brands, news agencies, digital magazines, documentary filmmakers and non-profits from different parts of the globe. As an author, he works with a vision to bring forward the right information and encourage a constructive mindset among the masses.