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Moiré Modulation of Van Der Waals Potential in Twisted Hexagonal Boron Nitride.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Chiodini, Stefano 
Venturi, Giacomo 
Mignuzzi, Sandro 

Abstract

When a twist angle is applied between two layered materials (LMs), the registry of the layers and the associated change in their functional properties are spatially modulated, and a moiré superlattice arises. Several works explored the optical, electric, and electromechanical moiré-dependent properties of such twisted LMs but, to the best of our knowledge, no direct visualization and quantification of van der Waals (vdW) interlayer interactions has been presented, so far. Here, we use tapping mode atomic force microscopy phase-imaging to probe the spatial modulation of the vdW potential in twisted hexagonal boron nitride. We find a moiré superlattice in the phase channel only when noncontact (long-range) forces are probed, revealing the modulation of the vdW potential at the sample surface, following AB and BA stacking domains. The creation of scalable electrostatic domains, modulating the vdW potential at the interface with the environment by means of layer twisting, could be used for local adhesion engineering and surface functionalization by affecting the deposition of molecules or nanoparticles.

Description

Funder: European Commission

Keywords

atomic force microscopy, hexagonal boron nitride, layered materials, mechanical phase imaging, moiré superlattices, van der Waals interactions

Journal Title

ACS Nano

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1936-0851
1936-086X

Volume Title

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K01711X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K017144/1)
European Research Council (319277)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L016087/1)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) (820378)