2D Materials Nanosculpting and Bioelectronics Applications

Electron beams constitute powerful tools to shape materials with atomic resolution inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). I will describe experiments where we push the limits of device size to atomic scale in 2D materials beyond graphene (MoS₂, WS₂, MoTe₂, black phosphorous) and expand their function and precision, while addressing fundamental questions about structure and properties at nanometer and atomic scales. Experiments are performed in situ and ex situ TEM. In situ TEM experiments include fabrication of nanoribbons and field-effect-transistors from novel two-dimensional materials down to sub-nm widths. Ex situ TEM experiments include the ultrafast, all-electronic detection and analysis of biomolecules by driving them through tiny holes – or nanopores – in thin membranes, including the efforts towards mapping a human genome under 10 min. As molecules are driven through nanopores in solution, they block the ion current flow resulting in current reductions from which molecule’s physical and chemical properties are inferred. DNA, proteins, microRNA and other biomolecules can be analyzed. The temporal, spatial resolution and sensitivity in these experiments have been improved over the last few years thanks to advanced materials, device designs and new electronics.