Two-dimensional semiconductor crystals

Over the past decade a new class of materials has made its debut, a class that is not three-dimensional but two-dimensional in nature. The best-known example from this class of two-dimensional materials is graphene. Graphene exhibits a broad range of exotic and intriguing properties and with these it can be justifiably called an amazing material. However, graphene has one big disadvantage: it has no band gap and it is therefore impossible to realise a graphene field effect device.

In this research programme the focus lies on two-dimensional materials that do have a band gap, or in which a band gap can be realised. The crystals that have been chosen are silicene (the silicon version of graphene), phosphorene and the transition metal (di)chalcogenides. Through a joint effort from theoretical, experimental and device-oriented research groups the entire trajectory from theory and material synthesis to device fabrication and characterisation will be covered.

Programme leader Harold Zandvliet is very happy with the funding awarded: “Developments in the area of two-dimensional semiconductors are proceeding rapidly and so we need to get the programme up and running as quickly as possible. As all of the participants are already active in this research area we will be able to make a quick start."

This programme is a collaboration between:

• M. Katsnelson and A. Fasolino, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University;
• H. van der Zant and G. Steele, Kavli Institute of NanoScience, Delft University of Technology;
• J. Ye, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen;
• P. Kelly, G. Brocks, M. de Jong and H. Zandvliet, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente.