Chemical Vapor Deposition Grown Large-Scale Atomically Thin Platinum Diselenide with Semimetal–Semiconductor Transition

Abstract

Among two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), platinum diselenide (PtSe 2 ) stands in a distinct place due to its fancy transition from type-II Dirac semimetal to semiconductor with a thickness variation from bulk to monolayer (1 ML) and the related versatile applications especially in mid-infrared detectors. However, achieving atomically thin PtSe 2 is still a challenging issue. Herein, we have designed a facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to achieve the synthesis of atomically thin 1T-PtSe 2 on an electrode material of Au foil. Thanks to the high crystalline quality, we have confirmed the complete transition from semimetal to semiconductor from trilayer (3 ML) to 1 ML 1T-PtSe 2 . More importantly, we have found that such atomically thin 1T-PtSe 2 can serve as perfect electrocatalysts, featured with a record high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiency (comparable to traditional Pt catalyst). Our work is helpful toward the large-scale synthesis, exotic physical property exploration, and intriguing application development of atomically thin TMDCs.

Two‐Dimensional Noble‐Metal Chalcogenides and Phosphochalcogenides

“…The authors confirmed the predictions of a semimetal‐to‐semiconductor transition at the monolayer limit, with a band gap of about 1.2 eV. This fascinating effect was supported by Ciarrochi et al., and later‐on Shi et al . determined this transition to already happen at three layers.…”

“…The performance of the bulk material towards the HER is reasonable, but can be enhanced by increasing the amount of edge sites or by reducing the bulk thickness. Shi et al . indicated atomically thin 1 T ‐PtSe 2 to be a perfect electrocatalyst, with a record high HER efficiency comparable to the traditional Pt catalysts.…”

“…The NMDCs also showed an outstanding performance as sensors, for example, for pressure or for specific molecular species . Their chemistry, which includes highly anisotropic structural features, low‐energy differences between different polymorphs, controllable phase changes, and catalytic properties, differs from that of the transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), such as MoS 2 and WSe 2 . This is caused by electron correlation and relativistic effects, which render their theoretical investigation challenging.…”

Zweidimensionale Edelmetallchalkogenide und ‐phosphochalkogenide

“…Dieser faszinierende Effekt wurde von Ciarrochi et al . verifiziert und später haben Shi et al . herausgefunden, dass dieser Übergang bereits bei nur drei Lagen stattfindet.…”

“…Die NMDCs zeigen eine herausragende Leistung als Sensoren, zum Beispiel für Druck oder bestimmte molekulare Spezies . Ihre Chemie, die sehr anisotrope strukturelle Merkmale, geringe Energiebarrieren zwischen den Strukturtypen, kontrollierbare Phasenübergänge und katalytische Eigenschaften beinhaltet, unterscheidet sich von den Übergangsmetalldichalkogeniden (TMDCs) wie MoS 2 oder WSe 2 . Ein Grund dafür ist der Einfluss von Elektronen‐Korrelationseffekten und relativistischen Effekten, wodurch die Untersuchung dieser Materialien seitens der Theorie herausfordernd ist.…”