2022 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Exploring the impact of confinement and defects on surface charge of 2D materials with controlled van der Waals nanochannels fabrication.
| Project/Area Number |
21K20499
|
|---|
| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
|
| Keywords | nanofluidics / 2D channels / fluids / surface charge |
|---|
| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The objective of this research project is to investigate the impact of confinement and surface defects on the surface charge of 2D materials within nanochannels created through van der Waals assembly. Specifically, we concentrated on hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and graphite systems, which possess similar crystallography but distinct electronic properties.
The manufacturing process experienced a delay due to the late arrival of a chiller needed to operate the annealing furnace essential for nanochannel production. Nonetheless, we successfully completed all steps of the channel fabrication process that did not involve the annealing furnace, including graphite/hBN exfoliation on a SiO2 sample and controlled transfer of flakes to various desired substrates (SiN, SiO2 on Si, or glass). We also effectively fabricated nanoscale masks atop hBN or graphite crystals using electron beam lithography, which will be employed to regulate surface defect density. We designed and bought the nitride membranes featuring a micrometric slit opening on top of which the nanochannels will be fabricated. Finally, we successfully etched nanochannels within hBN and graphite flakes.
In the upcoming months, we will be able to perform experiments to comprehend the influence of defects and confinement on 2D materials van der Waals nanochannels.
|
