May 3, 2024

Beyond Graphene: A New “Metallic” 2D Material – Molybdenene

Researchers have actually presented “molybdenene,” an unique 2D metallic material. The new material is therefore similarly thin as graphene, most likely the best-known 2D material. Like molybdenene, they exhibit some remarkable properties, while the latter still varies from other 2D products in some elements. “Many 2D products are sensitive to heat, but molybdenene is not. Initial sample recordings show that molybdenene uses different advantages over recognized idea products and, because of its thin, flat shape, is capable of offering particularly great defense against unwanted disturbance signals.

Electron microscopic lense pictures of the hair-shaped structures, also referred to as “hairs,” which contain the thin molybdenene layers. Credit & & Copyright: Sahu, T.K., Kumar, N., Chahal, S. et al., Nat. Nanotechnol.( 2023), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01484-2 (CC BY 4.0).
The Uniqueness of Molybdenene. Over the last few years, other 2D products such as phosphorene or germanene have been introduced. Like molybdenene, they display some outstanding homes, while the latter still differs from other 2D products in some elements. “Many 2D products are delicate to heat, but molybdenene is not. This is the first metal 2D material where free-standing layers could be prepared” explains Prof. Ilia Valov from the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich.
High-resolution electron microscope image of the molybdenene surface area.( 2023), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01484-2( CC BY 4.0).
Production and Potential Applications. The researchers created the brand-new 2D material using a microwave, in which they heated up a mixture of molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) and graphene to incandescence at a temperature of around 3000 degrees Celsius. In a response driven by the microwave electric field, finely branched hair structures, likewise understood as “whiskers,” were formed in which the tapered molybdenum layers can be discovered.
“Molybdenene is mechanically very steady. The researchers expect that the material has even more exotic electronic homes, similar to graphene, since of its unique 2D structure. These collect on the two side sides of the molybdenene, which makes the material an interesting prospect for catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.
Hair-shaped structures of molybdenene (right) are formed in the microwave (left). Credit & & Copyright: Sahu, T.K., Kumar, N., Chahal, S. et al, Nat. Nanotechnol. (2023 ), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01484-2 (CC BY 4.0).
Practical Implementations and Collaborations.
In partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology in Patna and the Australian University of Newcastle, the scientists have currently been able to establish a useful clinical application for molybdenene. Thanks to its stability and outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity, it is ideally matched as a determining tip for atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface-enhanced RAMAN spectroscopy (SERS). Preliminary sample recordings reveal that molybdenene uses various advantages over established pointer materials and, because of its thin, flat shape, is capable of offering particularly excellent security against undesirable disturbance signals.
Reference: “Microwave synthesis of molybdenene from MoS2” by Tumesh Kumar Sahu, Nishant Kumar, Sumit Chahal, Rajkumar Jana, Sumana Paul, Moumita Mukherjee, Amir H. Tavabi, Ayan Datta, Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski, Ilia Valov, Alpana Nayak and Prashant Kumar, 4 September 2023, Nature Nanotechnology.DOI: 10.1038/ s41565-023-01484-2.

Researchers have actually presented “molybdenene,” an unique 2D metallic material. Showing impressive heat resistance and potential in boosting battery performance, molybdenene also shows pledge in atomic microscopy and spectroscopy applications. Made up of a single atomic layer of molybdenum atoms, this material stands out due to its metallic nature.
Two-dimensional products like graphene show remarkable properties such as superconductivity, extraordinary strength, and exotic quantum phenomena. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich, together with partners from the Indian Institute of Technology in Patna and the Australian University of Newcastle, have actually now produced an unique product of this kind that exhibits a metallic character. It consists of just one atomic layer of molybdenum atoms and is also referred to as “molybdenene.”.
Contrast With Graphene.
The researchers was successful in producing a thin sheet of the metal molybdenum, which is simply one atomic layer thick. The new material is thus similarly thin as graphene, probably the best-known 2D product. Due to its unique 2D structure, graphene also displays some unusual electro-magnetic results that could make it possible for groundbreaking innovations in the field of quantum technology.