Band Gap Tuning in 2D Layered Materials by Angular Rotation

Materials (Basel). 2017 Feb 8;10(2):147. doi: 10.3390/ma10020147.

Abstract

We present a series of computer-assisted high-resolution transmission electron (HRTEM) simulations to determine Moiré patters by induced twisting effects between slabs at rotational angles of 3°, 5°, 8°, and 16°, for molybdenum disulfide, graphene, tungsten disulfide, and tungsten selenide layered materials. In order to investigate the electronic structure, a series of numerical simulations using density functional methods (DFT) methods was completed using Cambridge serial total energy package (CASTEP) with a generalized gradient approximation to determine both the band structure and density of states on honeycomb-like new superlattices. Our results indicated metallic transitions when the rotation approached 8° with respect to each other laminates for most of the two-dimensional systems that were analyzed.

Keywords: HRTEM; MoS2; Moiré patterns; WS2; WSe2; graphene.