Experimental Adhesion Energy in van der Waals Crystals and Heterostructures from Atomically Thin Bubbles

The formation of gas-filled bubbles on the surface of van der Waals crystals provides an ideal platform whereby the interplay of the elastic parameters and interlayer forces can be suitably investigated. Here, we combine experimental and numerical efforts to study the morphology of the bubbles at equilibrium and highlight unexpected behaviors that contrast with the common assumptions. We exploit such observations to develop an accurate analytical model to describe the shape and strain of the bubbles and exploit it to measure the adhesion energy between a variety of van der Waals crystals, showing sizable material-dependent trends.

Automated summary

Studying the morphology and behavior of bubbles on van der Waals crystals reveals the interplay between elastic parameters and interlayer forces on the crystal surface. The unexpected behaviors of the bubbles contradict common assumptions and require a new analytical model to describe them accurately. The research findings highlight material-dependent trends in adhesion energy between different van der Waals crystals.