Molybdenum – graphene’s “metallic” relative – Information Compass

Electron micrograph of hair-shaped structures, also known as “whiskers,” containing thin layers of molybdenum. Copyright: Sahu, T. K., Kumar, N., Chahal, S. et al., Nat. Nano technology. (2023), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01484-2 (CC BY 4.0)

Two-dimensional materials like graphene have amazing properties. Researchers from Jülich from the information of the Helmholtz Research Area, in cooperation with partners from the Indian Institute of Technology in Patna and the Australian University of Newcastle, have produced a special material of this type with a metallic character. It consists of a layer of molybdenum atoms that is only one atom thick and is also known as “molybdenum”. (Source: Jülich Research Center – press releases)

Scientists were able to create a layer of molybdenum metal that is only one atom thick. The new material is therefore as thin as graphene, and is perhaps the most well-known 2D material. The latter is made of carbon and was first isolated in 2004. This discovery caused a sensation because graphene conducts electricity and heat much better than copper, and is 100 times more stable than steel. At the same time, it is exceptionally light and flexible. Due to its special two-dimensional structure, graphene also exhibits some unusual electromagnetic effects that could enable groundbreaking innovations in quantum technology.

In recent years, other 2D materials such as phosphorene or germanene have been added. Like molybdenum, it has some impressive properties, although the latter differs from other 2D materials in several aspects. “Many 2D materials are sensitive to heat, but molybdenum is not. This is also the first free-standing 2D metal that can ever be manufactured,” explains Professor Ilya Valov from the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich.

The researchers created the new 2D material using microwaves, mixing a mixture of molybdenum sulfide (MoS).₂) Graphene glows at a temperature of about 3000 degrees Celsius. In a reaction driven by the electric wave field, finely branched lattice structures are formed where pointed molybdenum layers can be found. These are also called “mustaches” which means “mustache hair”.

In preliminary tests, scientists have already observed a variety of beneficial properties. “Molybdenum is very mechanically stable. For example, it can be used as a coating for electrodes to make batteries more robust and flexible. Researchers suspect that the material has additional strange electronic properties, similar to graphene, due to its special two-dimensional structure. Due to its metallic nature, it also contains Freely moving electrons accumulate on the two side surfaces of molybdenum, making the material interesting as a catalyst for accelerating chemical reactions.

In collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology in Patna and the University of Newcastle in Australia, researchers have already been able to develop a practical scientific application for molybdenum. Due to its stability and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, it is ideal as a measuring tip for atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Initial test images show that molybdenum offers various advantages over existing materials and, thanks to its thin, flat shape, can protect well against unwanted interference signals.

FZG/T. Castles, September 20, 2023

The original press release can be found at:

Molybdenum – a “metallic” relative of graphene

The original post can be found at (open access):

Sahu, T. K., Kumar, N., Chahal, S. et al. Microwave synthesis of molybdenine from MoS₂ Nat. Nano technology. (2023). Digital ID: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01484-2

Location in Helmholtz Research Area Information:

Helmholtz Research Area Information, Program 2: Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing, Topic 3: Neural Computing and Network Dynamics and Program 3: Material Systems Engineering Processing, Topic 5: Materials Information Discovery

communication:

Professor Dr. Ilya Valov
Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI)
Electronic Materials (PGI-7)
Julich Research Center
Tel: +49 2461/61-2994
Email: [email protected]

Professor Dr. Rafal Donen Borkowski
Ernst Ruska Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Center (ER-C)
Physics of Nanosystems (ER-C-1/PGI-5)
Julich Research Center
Tel: +49 2461/61-9297
Email: [email protected]

Contact for this press release:

Tobias Schlosser
Press attaché
Julich Research Center
Tel: +49 2461 61-4771
Email: [email protected]