Moiré superlattices of 2D materials with a small twist angle are thought to exhibit appreciable flexoelectric effect, though unambiguous confirmation of their flexoelectricity is challenging due to artifacts associated with commonly used piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). For example, unexpectedly small phase contrast (≈8°) between opposite flexoelectric polarizations is reported in twisted bilayer graphene (tBG), though theoretically predicted value is 180°. Here a methodology is developed to extract intrinsic moiré flexoelectricity using twisted double bilayer graphene (tDBG) as a model system, probed by lateral PFM. For small twist angle samples, it is found that a vectorial decomposition is essential to recover the small intrinsic flexoelectric response at domain walls from a large background signal. The obtained threefold symmetry of commensurate domains with significant flexoelectric response at domain walls is fully consistent with the theoretical calculations. Incommensurate domains in tDBG with relatively large twist angles can also be observed by this technique. A general strategy is provided here for unraveling intrinsic flexoelectricity in van der Waals moiré superlattices while providing insights into engineered symmetry breaking in centrosymmetric materials.
Low‐symmetry 2D materials with strong in‐plane anisotropy are ideal platforms for building multifunctional optoelectronic devices. However, the random orientations and easy formation of multidomain structures lead to the single‐crystal synthesis of these materials remains a big challenge. Herein, for the first time, the orientation‐controlled synthesis of ReS2, a typical low‐symmetry 2D material, is explored via interface engineering based on the strong interaction between the material and Au substrates with different symmetries. It is revealed that the lattice orientation and growth behavior of ReS2 are closely relevant to the lattice symmetry of Au facets. Single crystal ReS2 domains with two and even one orientations are acquired on the four‐fold symmetry Au(001) facet and the two‐fold symmetry Au(101) facet, respectively. Combined with density functional theory calculations, it is demonstrated that the synergy of ultra‐strong ReS2‐Au interfacial coupling and reduction of symmetry of Au facet is critical to realizing its intrinsic anisotropic growth. Furthermore, great enhancement of electrical and photoelectrical performances are acquired on the well‐aligned single crystal ReS2 device. The progress achieved in this work provides significant guidance for the controllable synthesis of wafer‐scale single crystals of low‐symmetry 2D materials for their practical device applications.
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