Stacking of 2D Materials

2D layered materials have sparked great interest from the perspective of basic physics and applied science in the past few years. Extraordinarily, many novel stacked structures that bring versatile properties and applications can be artificially assembled, as exemplified by vertical van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, twisted multilayer 2D materials, hybrid dimensional structures, etc. Compared with the ordinary synthesis process, the stacking technique is a powerful strategy to achieve high-quality and freely controlled 2D material stacked structures with atomic accuracy. This review highlights the most advanced stacking techniques involving the preparation, transfer, and stacking of high-quality single crystal 2D materials. Apart from the 2D-2D stacked structures, 2D-0D, 2D-1D, and 2D-3D structures offer a prospective platform for the increasing application of 2D materials. The assembly strategy and physical properties of these stacked structures strongly depend on the factors in the stacking process, including the surface quality, angle control, and sample size. In addition, comparative analysis tables on the techniques involved are also available. The summary of these strategies and techniques will hopefully provide a valuable reference for relevant work.

Automated summary

The stacking technique of 2D layered materials is a powerful strategy to achieve high-quality and controlled structures, with a variety of properties and applications, by artificially assembling different dimensional materials. Factors in the stacking process play a crucial role in determining the structure and properties, such as surface quality, angle control, and sample size.