Adapted from an article published on phys.org
When exposed to air, luminescent 2D material, molybdenum telluride (MoTe2), appears to decompose within a couple days, losing its optical contrast and becoming virtually transparent. But when scientists probed further, they found that the disappearance is an illusion and the material remains structurally stable, and only its material properties change. The results offer clues into the stability and unusual properties of a newer class of 2D materials called transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs).
The results show that the defects play a significant role in the optical properties and stability of MoTe2, and could also reveal insight into the environmental
stability of other TMDs, such as silicene (2D silicon), phosphorene (2D phosphorous), and other TMDs. It could also lead to ways to control these materials’ properties.
Applications for this type of materials are as yet unclear, but an invisibility cape seems like a good objective to me.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-05-two-dimensional-material-doesnt.html#jCp
The research: Bin Chen, Hasan Sahin, et al. “Environmental Changes in MoTe2 Excitonic Dynamics by Defects-Activated Molecular Interaction.” ACS Nano. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b00985
Tamara Alliot, MMTA
