Atomically Thin 2D Metals Achieved Through Innovative Vdw Squeezing Technique By Chinese Scientists

Researchers from the Institute of Physics (IOP) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel technique called vdW squeezing, enabling the production of atomically thin 2D metals at the angstrom thickness limit. This method involves melting and squeezing pure metals between two rigid van der Waals anvils under high pressure, successfully creating diverse 2D metals such as bismuth (Bi), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), indium (In), and gallium (Ga). These materials exhibit enhanced electrical conductivity, strong field effects, large nonlinear Hall conductivity, and new phonon modes. The study was published in Nature on March 12, 2025. Professor Zhang Guangyu emphasized the technique’s potential for manufacturing various 2D materials and advancing quantum, electronic, and photonic devices.

Atomically Thin 2D Metals via vdW Squeezing: A Breakthrough in Material Science

The creation of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) metals using the van der Waals (vdW) squeezing technique represents a significant advancement in material science. This innovative method involves melting pure metals such as bismuth, tin, lead, indium, and gallium, which are chosen for their relatively low melting points, making them ideal candidates for this process.

The technique employs high pressure applied between rigid vdW anvils made of single-crystalline MoS2 monolayers on sapphire substrates. These MoS2 anvils provide a stable and uniform environment, ensuring the metals spread into thin, even layers without defects. The encapsulation by MoS2 not only protects the metals from environmental factors like oxidation but also preserves their unique electronic properties, including enhanced electrical conductivity and p-type behavior.

The resulting 2D metals exhibit new phonon modes due to reduced dimensionality, altering their vibrational characteristics and offering potential applications in optoelectronics. The controlled synthesis process ensures uniform structures, which are crucial for maintaining material integrity and desired properties.

Despite the promise of scalability, challenges remain in mass production, primarily due to the need for precise conditions and potential costs. However, the ability to study layer-dependent properties provides insights into quantum effects and electronic behavior changes with thickness, essential for applications in quantum computing and flexible electronics.

Future implications include leveraging enhanced conductivity and nonlinear Hall effects for high-speed transistors, sensors, and memory devices. Additionally, while current focus is on electronics, potential uses in photonic technologies like LEDs and solar cells are being explored, contingent upon further research into optical properties.

In summary, the vdW squeezing technique offers precise control over 2D metal structures and electronic properties, paving the way for diverse applications across multiple fields once production scalability challenges are addressed.