Contact and Non-Contact Measurement of Electronic Transport in Individual 2D SnS Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Published

September 24, 2018

Author(s)

Adam J. Biacchi, Son T. Le, Brian G. Alberding, Joseph A. Hagmann, Sujitra J. Pookpanratana, Edwin J. Heilweil, Curt A. Richter, Angela R. Hight Walker

Abstract

Colloidal-based solution syntheses offer a scalable and cost-efficient means of producing 2D nanomaterials in high yield. While much progress has been made towards the controlled and tailorable synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals in solution, it remains a substantial challenge to fully characterize the products’ inherent electronic transport properties. This is often due to their irregular morphology or small dimensions, which demand the formation of colloidal assemblies or films as a prerequisite to performing electrical measurements. Here, we report the synthesis of nearly monodisperse 2D colloidal nanocrystals of semiconductor SnS and a thorough investigation of the intrinsic electronic transport properties of single crystals. We utilize a combination of multi-point contact probe measurements and ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy to determine the carrier concentration, carrier mobility, conductivity/resistivity, and majority carrier type of individual colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals. Employing this metrological approach, we compare the electronic properties extracted for distinct morphologies of 2D SnS, and relate them to literature values. Our results indicate that the electronic transport of colloidal semiconductors may be tuned through prudent selection of the synthetic conditions. We find that these properties compare favorably to SnS grown using vapor deposition techniques, illustrating that colloidal solution synthesis is a promising route to scalable production of nanoscale 2D materials.

Citation

ACS Nano

Volume

12

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b04620

Keywords

colloidal nanocrystals, 2d materials, solution synthesis, electronic properties, electrical measurements, time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy, tin sulfide

Citation

Biacchi, A. , Le, S. , Alberding, B. , Hagmann, J. , Pookpanratana, S. , Heilweil, E. , Richter, C. and Hight, A. (2018), Contact and Non-Contact Measurement of Electronic Transport in Individual 2D SnS Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals, ACS Nano, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b04620 (Accessed May 1, 2024)