Chromium Trihalides CrX3 (X = Cl, Br, I): Direct Deposition of Micro- and Nanosheets on Substrates by Chemical Vapor Transport

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Martin Grönke - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Benjamin Buschbeck - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW) (Author)
  • Peer Schmidt - , Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (Author)
  • Martin Valldor - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Steffen Oswald - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Qi Hao - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Axel Lubk - , CEOS- Endowed Chair of Electron Optics (with IFW), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Daniel Wolf - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Udo Steiner - , Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW) (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Silke Hampel - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

The experimental observation of intrinsic ferromagnetism in single layered chromium trihalides CrX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) has gained outstanding attention recently due to their possible implementation in spintronic devices. However, the reproducible preparation of highly crystalline chromium(III) halide nanolayers without stacking faults is still an experimental challenge. As chromium trihalides consist of adjacent layers with weak interlayer coupling, the preparation of ultrathin CrX3 nanosheets directly on substrates via vapor transport proves as an advantageous synthesis technique. It is demonstrated that vapor growth of ultrathin highly crystalline CrX3 micro- and nanosheets succeeds directly on yttrium stabilized zirconia substrates in a one-step process via chemical vapor transport (CVT) in temperature gradients of 100 K (600 °C → 500 °C for CrCl3 and 650 °C → 550 °C for CrBr3 or CrI3) without a need for subsequent delamination. Due to simulation results, optimization of synthesis conditions is realized and phase pure CrX3 nanosheets with thicknesses ≤25 nm are obtained via short term CVT. The nanosheets morphology, crystallinity, and phase purity are analyzed by several techniques, including microscopy, diffraction, and spectroscopy. Furthermore, a potential subsequent delamination technique is demonstrated to give fast access to CrX3 monolayers using the example of CrCl3.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1901410
JournalAdvanced materials interfaces
Volume6
Issue number24
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • chemical vapor transport, CrX, crystal growth, nanosheets, transition metal halides