Hexagonal metal oxide monolayers derived from the metal-gas interface

Two-dimensional (2D) crystals are promising materials for developing future nano-enabled technologies(1-6). The cleavage of weak, interlayer van der Waals bonds in layered bulk crystals enables the production of high-quality 2D, atomically thin monolayers(7-10). Nonetheless, as earth-abundant compounds, metal oxides are rarely accessible as pure and fully stoichiometric monolayers owing to their ion-stabilized 'lamellar' bulk structure(11-14). Here, we report the discovery of a layered planar hexagonal phase of oxides from elements across the transition metals, post-transition metals, lanthanides and metalloids, derived from strictly controlled oxidation at the metal-gas interface. The highly crystalline monolayers, without the support of ionic dopants or vacancies, can easily be mechanically exfoliated by stamping them onto substrates. Monolayer and few-layered hexagonal TiO2 are characterized as examples, showing p-type semiconducting properties with hole mobilities of up to 950 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) at room temperature. The strategy can be readily extended to a variety of elements, possibly expanding the exploration of metal oxides in the 2D quantum regime.

Automated summary

Metal oxides as two-dimensional materials can be produced by cleavage of weak interlayer van der Waals bonds in layered bulk crystals, but obtaining pure and fully stoichiometric monolayers is challenging. Researchers have discovered a layered planar hexagonal phase of oxides from transition metals, post-transition metals, lanthanides and metalloids, which can be mechanically exfoliated without ionic dopants or vacancies, showing potential for further exploration in the 2D quantum regime.