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A liquid metal reaction environment for the room-temperature synthesis of atomically thin metal oxides.

Ali ZavabetiJian-Zhen OuBenjamin J CareyNitu SyedRebecca Orrell-TriggEdwin L H MayesChenglong XuOmid KaveheiAnthony Peter O'MullaneRichard B KanerKourosh Kalantar-ZadehTorben Daeneke
Published in: Science (New York, N.Y.) (2018)
Two-dimensional (2D) oxides have a wide variety of applications in electronics and other technologies. However, many oxides are not easy to synthesize as 2D materials through conventional methods. We used nontoxic eutectic gallium-based alloys as a reaction solvent and co-alloyed desired metals into the melt. On the basis of thermodynamic considerations, we predicted the composition of the self-limiting interfacial oxide. We isolated the surface oxide as a 2D layer, either on substrates or in suspension. This enabled us to produce extremely thin subnanometer layers of HfO2, Al2O3, and Gd2O3 The liquid metal-based reaction route can be used to create 2D materials that were previously inaccessible with preexisting methods. The work introduces room-temperature liquid metals as a reaction environment for the synthesis of oxide nanomaterials with low dimensionality.
Keyphrases
  • ionic liquid
  • room temperature
  • electron transfer
  • human health
  • risk assessment