@article{21a79cf3f5bc4edeac1a702ec29b51eb,
title = "Selective Vertical and Horizontal Growth of 2D WS2 Revealed by In Situ Thermolysis using Transmission Electron Microscopy",
abstract = "Direct observation of the growth dynamics of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is of key importance for understanding and controlling the growth modes and for tailoring these intriguing materials to desired orientations and layer thicknesses. Here, various stages and multiple growth modes in the formation of WS2 layers on different substrates through thermolysis of a single solid-state (NH4)2WS4 precursor are revealed using in situ transmission electron microscopy. Control over vertical and horizontal growth is achieved by varying the thickness of the drop-casted precursor from which WS2 is grown during heating. First depositing platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) on the heating chips much enhance the growth process of WS2 resulting in an increased length of vertical layers and in a self-limited thickness of horizontal layers. Interference patterns are formed by the mutual rotation of two WS2 layers by various angles on metal deposited heating chips. This shows detailed insights into the growth dynamics of 2D WS2 as a function of temperature, thereby establishing control over orientation and size. These findings also unveil the important role of metal substrates in the evolution of WS2 structures, offering general and effective pathways for nano-engineering of 2D TMDs for a variety of applications.",
keywords = "2D growth mechanisms, catalytic metal substrates, ex situ growth, in situ transmission electron microscopy, thermolysis, twisted bilayers, WS",
author = "Gavhane, {Dnyaneshwar S.} and Sontakke, {Atul D.} and {van Huis}, {Marijn A.}",
note = "Funding Information: This project was financially supported by the European Research Council through an ERC Consolidator Grant NANO‐INSITU (No. 683076). The authors thank Hans Meeldijk and Chris Schneijdenberg from Electron Microscopy Utrecht for help with TEM experimentation, and thank Dr. Xiaobin Xie and Harith Gurunarayanan of Utrecht University for Raman spectroscopic measurements. The authors thank B.Sc. student Jesse B{\"u}ckmann and Prof. Alfons van Blaaderen for useful discussions on the project. The authors also thank Dr. Rafael Gregorio Mendes and Xiaodan Chen for proofreading the manuscript. Funding Information: This project was financially supported by the European Research Council through an ERC Consolidator Grant NANO-INSITU (No. 683076). The authors thank Hans Meeldijk and Chris Schneijdenberg from Electron Microscopy Utrecht for help with TEM experimentation, and thank Dr. Xiaobin Xie and Harith Gurunarayanan of Utrecht University for Raman spectroscopic measurements. The authors thank B.Sc. student Jesse B{\"u}ckmann and Prof. Alfons van Blaaderen for useful discussions on the project. The authors also thank Dr. Rafael Gregorio Mendes and Xiaodan Chen for proofreading the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Advanced Functional Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH",
year = "2022",
month = jan,
day = "3",
doi = "10.1002/adfm.202106450",
language = "English",
volume = "32",
pages = "1--17",
journal = "Advanced Functional Materials",
issn = "1616-301X",
publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",
number = "1",
}