Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls

Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 13, 2024

A team of scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University, led by Associate Professor Yasumitsu Miyata, has introduced a groundbreaking method for crafting atomically thin nanoscrolls, marking a significant advancement in the manipulation of nanoscale materials. This new approach, leveraging transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) sheets with asymmetric compositions, achieves unprecedented control over the structure of nanoscrolls, promising to enhance applications in catalysis and photovoltaic devices.

TMDCs, compounds known for their remarkable properties including flexibility, superconductivity, and unique optical absorbance, are at the forefront of nanotechnology research. The team's latest endeavor focuses on manipulating these materials into tightly rolled structures known as nanoscrolls, which are envisaged to play a pivotal role in the next generation of materials and devices.

Traditional methods for creating nanoscrolls have faced significant challenges, including distortion of the crystal structure and limitations in achieving defect-free, tightly rolled structures. The Tokyo Metropolitan University researchers, however, have sidestepped these issues by adopting a novel strategy. They begin with a monolayer molybdenum selenide nanosheet, which is then treated with plasma to replace selenium atoms on one side with sulfur, creating what is known as Janus nanosheets-named after the two-faced Roman deity.

The introduction of a solvent gently separates the sheets from their substrate, allowing them to spontaneously roll into scrolls due to the created asymmetry. These newly formed nanoscrolls are not only longer but also tighter than any previously produced, with diameters at their center reaching down to five nanometers and lengths spanning several micrometers.

The significance of this development lies not only in the size and tightness of the scrolls but also in their interaction with polarized light and hydrogen production capabilities, opening new avenues for research in light-responsive materials and energy sustainability.

Associate Professor Miyata's team's method represents a leap forward in the quest for nanostructural control, with implications that extend far beyond the immediate applications to catalysis and photovoltaic devices. This technique paves the way for exploring the full potential of TMDC nanoscrolls in various technological applications, reflecting the ongoing evolution of nanotechnology as a tool for engineering the materials of the future.

Research Report:Nanoscrolls of Janus Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides