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Accurate Identification of Layer Number for Few-Layer WS2 and WSe2 via Spectroscopic Study.

Author
Abstract
:

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with typical layered structure are highly sensitive to their layer number in optical and electronic properties. Seeking a simple and effective method for layer number identification is very important to low-dimensional TMDs samples. Herein, a rapid and accurate layer number identification of few-layer WS2 and WSe2 is proposed via locking their photoluminescence (PL) peak-positions. As the layer number of WS2/WSe2 increases, it is found that indirect transition emission is more thickness-sensitive than direct transition emission, and the PL peak-position differences between the indirect and direct transitions can be regarded as fingerprints to identify their layer number. Theoretical calculation confirms that the notable thickness-sensitivity of indirect transition derives from the variations of electron density of states of W atom d-orbitals and chalcogen atom p-orbitals. Besides, the PL peak-position differences between the indirect and direct transitions are almost independent of different insulating substrates. This work not only proposes a new method for layer number identification via PL studies, but also provides a valuable insight into the thickness-dependent optical and electronic properties of W-based TMDs.

Year of Publication
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2018
Journal
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Nanotechnology
Date Published
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2018
ISSN Number
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0957-4484
URL
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https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/aaa923
DOI
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10.1088/1361-6528/aaa923
Short Title
:
Nanotechnology
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