Novel tunable 2D nanosheets enable many semiconductor applications, ranging from electronics to photocatalysis

Nanowerk  March 15, 2023
Perovskites is a promising material for producing 2D monolayer nanosheets if their tunability of bandgap corresponding to the energy of visible light. To solve this problem researchers in Japan focused on a Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) phase layered perovskite oxynitrides and successfully created 2D perovskite oxynitride nanosheets with a tunable bandgap using their novel process. The material had a homogenous thickness of 1.6 nm and exhibited different colors, ranging from white to yellow, depending on the nitridation temperature, and exhibited the semiconductor property of having a tunable bandgap in the visible region, ranging from 2.03-2.63 eV, based on the nitridation temperature. They prepared a “superlattice” structure consisting of alternating layers of the synthesized nanosheets and oxide (Ca2Nb3O10) nanosheets. It exhibited superior proton conductivity and excellent photocatalytic activity. According to the researchers their study will open new possibilities for producing multiple superlattices by employing soft−chemical nano−architectonics based on 2D nanosheets which would enable efficient splitting of water as a photocatalyst and create more complex and better performing electronics… read more.  TECHNICAL ARTICLE