Scientists unlock the properties of new 2-D material

A new two-dimensional material has become a reality, thanks to a team of Danish and Italian scientists.

The research, led by physicists at Aarhus University, succeeded in the first experimentalrealisation and structural investigation of single-layer vanadium disulphide (VS2). It is published today in the journal 2-D Materials.

VS2 is one of a diverse group of compounds known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Many of these can assume a layered crystal structure from which atomically thin crystalline sheets can be isolated. The electronic properties of the single-atomic-layer crystals can differ in important ways from those of the layered bulk crystals.
Lead author Dr. Charlotte Sanders of Aarhus University explained the importance of the new findings: "Theoretical studies suggest that single-layer VS2 might exhibit very interesting physics, including magnetism and strong correlations. It might also host charge density wave states, as does bulk VS2. However, making VS2 is difficult and the single layer has not been successfully made before now.

"In fact, magnetism in single-layer materials has only recently beenobserved, and is still quite rare. So, the possibility that this material might be magnetic is exciting."