Scalable production of all-electronic DNA biosensors with high sensitivity and selectivity is a critical enabling step for research and applications associated with detection of DNA hybridization. We ...have developed a scalable and very reproducible (>90% yield) fabrication process for label-free DNA biosensors based upon graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) functionalized with single-stranded probe DNA. The shift of the GFET sensor Dirac point voltage varied systematically with the concentration of target DNA. The biosensors demonstrated a broad analytical range and limit of detection of 1 fM for 60-mer DNA oligonucleotide. In control experiments with mismatched DNA oligomers, the impact of the mismatch position on the DNA hybridization strength was confirmed. This class of highly sensitive DNA biosensors offers the prospect of detection of DNA hybridization and sequencing in a rapid, inexpensive, and accurate way.
Ultralow friction can be achieved with 2D materials, particularly graphene and MoS2. The nanotribological properties of these different 2D materials have been measured in previous atomic force ...microscope (AFM) experiments sequentially, precluding immediate and direct comparison of their frictional behavior. Here, friction is characterized at the nanoscale using AFM experiments with the same tip sliding over graphene, MoS2, and a graphene/MoS2 heterostructure in a single measurement, repeated hundreds of times, and also measured with a slowly varying normal force. The same material systems are simulated using molecular dynamics (MD) and analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In both experiments and MD simulations, graphene consistently exhibits lower friction than the MoS2 monolayer and the heterostructure. In some cases, friction on the heterostructure is lower than that on the MoS2 monolayer. Quasi-static MD simulations and DFT calculations show that the origin of the friction contrast is the difference in energy barriers for a tip sliding across each of the three surfaces.
We report on DNA translocations through nanopores created in graphene membranes. Devices consist of 1−5 nm thick graphene membranes with electron-beam sculpted nanopores from 5 to 10 nm in diameter. ...Due to the thin nature of the graphene membranes, we observe larger blocked currents than for traditional solid-state nanopores. However, ionic current noise levels are several orders of magnitude larger than those for silicon nitride nanopores. These fluctuations are reduced with the atomic-layer deposition of 5 nm of titanium dioxide over the device. Unlike traditional solid-state nanopore materials that are insulating, graphene is an excellent electrical conductor. Use of graphene as a membrane material opens the door to a new class of nanopore devices in which electronic sensing and control are performed directly at the pore.
We report how the presence of electron-beam-induced sulfur vacancies affects first-order Raman modes and correlate the effects with the evolution of the in situ transmission-electron microscopy ...two-terminal conductivity of monolayer MoS2 under electron irradiation. We observe a red-shift in the E′ Raman peak and a less pronounced blue-shift in the A′1 peak with increasing electron dose. Using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and selected-area electron diffraction, we show that irradiation causes partial removal of sulfur and correlate the dependence of the Raman peak shifts with S vacancy density (a few %). This allows us to quantitatively correlate the frequency shifts with vacancy concentration, as rationalized by first-principles density functional theory calculations. In situ device current measurements show an exponential decrease in channel current upon irradiation. Our analysis demonstrates that the observed frequency shifts are intrinsic properties of the defective systems and that Raman spectroscopy can be used as a quantitative diagnostic tool to characterize MoS2-based transport channels.
Two-dimensional layered MoS2 shows great potential for nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices due to its high photosensitivity, which is the result of its indirect to direct band gap transition ...when the bulk dimension is reduced to a single monolayer. Here, we present an exhaustive study of the band alignment and relativistic properties of a van der Waals heterostructure formed between single layers of MoS2 and graphene. A sharp, high-quality MoS2-graphene interface was obtained and characterized by micro-Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HRXPS), and scanning high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (STEM/HRTEM). Moreover, direct band structure determination of the MoS2/graphene van der Waals heterostructure monolayer was carried out using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), shedding light on essential features such as doping, Fermi velocity, hybridization, and band-offset of the low energy electronic dynamics found at the interface. We show that, close to the Fermi level, graphene exhibits a robust, almost perfect, gapless, and n-doped Dirac cone and no significant charge transfer doping is detected from MoS2 to graphene. However, modification of the graphene band structure occurs at rather larger binding energies, as the opening of several miniband-gaps is observed. These miniband-gaps resulting from the overlay of MoS2 and the graphene layer lattice impose a superperiodic potential.
Growth of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers is of interest due to their unique electrical and optical properties. Films in the 2H and 1T phases have been widely studied but monolayers ...of some 1T′-TMDs are predicted to be large-gap quantum spin Hall insulators, suitable for innovative transistor structures that can be switched via a topological phase transition rather than conventional carrier depletion Qian et al. Science 2014, 346, 1344−1347 . Here we detail a reproducible method for chemical vapor deposition of monolayer, single-crystal flakes of 1T′-MoTe2. Atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy confirm the composition and structure of MoTe2 flakes. Variable temperature magnetotransport shows weak antilocalization at low temperatures, an effect seen in topological insulators and evidence of strong spin–orbit coupling. Our approach provides a pathway to systematic investigation of monolayer, single-crystal 1T′-MoTe2 and implementation in next-generation nanoelectronic devices.
Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides like MoS2 monolayers exhibit unique luminescent properties. However, weak quantum yield and low light absorption hinder their practical applications ...in two-dimensional light emitting devices. Here, we report 1300 times enhancement in photoluminescence emission from a MoS2 monolayer via simultaneous Fano resonances in a dielectric photonic crystal. The spatially extended double Fano resonance scheme allows resonant enhancement of both the MoS2 absorption and emission. We also achieve unidirectional emission within a narrow divergence angle of 5° by engineering the Fano resonance angular dispersion. Our approach provides a new platform for efficient light sources with high directionality based on emerging two-dimensional materials.
Graphene oxide membranes up to 2000 μm2 in size can be synthesized with 90% yield in bulk quantities through a microwave-assisted chemical method. Membranes are readily visualized on an oxidized ...silicon substrate, which enables efficient fabrication of electronic devices and sensors. Field effect transistors made of the membrane show ambipolar behavior, and their conductivity is significantly higher than previously reported values.
The manipulation of light-matter interactions in two-dimensional atomically thin crystals is critical for obtaining new optoelectronic functionalities in these strongly confined materials. Here, by ...integrating chemically grown monolayers of MoS2 with a silver-bowtie nanoantenna array supporting narrow surface-lattice plasmonic resonances, a unique two-dimensional optical system has been achieved. The enhanced exciton–plasmon coupling enables profound changes in the emission and excitation processes leading to spectrally tunable, large photoluminescence enhancement as well as surface-enhanced Raman scattering at room temperature. Furthermore, due to the decreased damping of MoS2 excitons interacting with the plasmonic resonances of the bowtie array at low temperatures stronger exciton–plasmon coupling is achieved resulting in a Fano line shape in the reflection spectrum. The Fano line shape, which is due to the interference between the pathways involving the excitation of the exciton and plasmon, can be tuned by altering the coupling strengths between the two systems via changing the design of the bowties lattice. The ability to manipulate the optical properties of two-dimensional systems with tunable plasmonic resonators offers a new platform for the design of novel optical devices with precisely tailored responses.
We demonstrate strong exciton–plasmon coupling in silver nanodisk arrays integrated with monolayer MoS2 via angle-resolved reflectance microscopy spectra of the coupled system. Strong exciton–plasmon ...coupling is observed with the exciton–plasmon coupling strength up to 58 meV at 77 K, which also survives at room temperature. The strong coupling involves three types of resonances: MoS2 excitons, localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of individual silver nanodisks and plasmonic lattice resonances of the nanodisk array. We show that the exciton–plasmon coupling strength, polariton composition, and dispersion can be effectively engineered by tuning the geometry of the plasmonic lattice, which makes the system promising for realizing novel two-dimensional plasmonic polaritonic devices.