Commercialising the 2D material set to transform electronics

The challenge

Molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) is a 2D semiconducting material with properties that could pave the way for the next generation of electronics and optoelectronics devices. However, assessing the quality of the material was originally only possible using destructive techniques.

The solution

Oxford Instruments sought to develop a new deposition system and process that could produce MoS₂ in a more industrially scalable manner, which would help bring it to market for commercial applications. The company's researchers needed a suitable quality control approach, and turned to research conducted by us as a world leader in the characterisation and advanced measurement of 2D materials.

The impact

Our work on MoS₂ provided Oxford Instruments with the methodology it needed to develop its own quality control process, which characterises the 2D MoS₂ layers in a non-destructive way. This enables the team to efficiently characterise the MoS₂ produced via an industrially-scalable technology; and will help to accelerate the commercialisation of MoS₂, which shows promise in scaling down traditional electronics and sensors, and for optical applications such as photovoltaics and light emission.

There was no established way of checking the quality of MoS₂ in a non-destructive manner before NPL's work was published. Being able to measure the quality of the material enables us to optimise the growth process. This ensures we are able provide very high quality, low defect density MoS₂ films from our tools.

Dr Ravi Sundaram - Oxford Instruments

NPL's Advanced materials research

NPL's Surface technology research