Publications
Prof. Zonghoon Lee’s Atomic-Scale Electron Microscopy Lab
Prof. Zonghoon Lee’s Atomic-Scale Electron Microscopy Lab
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Publications in Nature | Science | their sister journals
Nature Materials, 24, 1507–1508, 2025 / Science Advances, 10 (45), 2024 / Nature, 629, 348-354,2024 / Nature Communications, 14:4747, 2023 / Nature Communications, 13:4916, 2022 / Nature Communications, 13:2759, 2022 / Nature, 596, 519-524, 2021 / Nature, 582, 511-514, 2020 / Nature Nanotechnology, 15, 289-295, 2020 / Nature Nanotechnology, 15, 59-66, 2020 / Science Advances, 6 (10), 2020 / Nature Electronics, 3, 207-215, 2020 / Nature Communications, 11 (1437), 2020 / Nature Energy, 3, 773-782, 2018 / Nature Communications, 8:1549, 2017 / Nature Communications, 6:8294, 2015 / Nature Communications, 6:7817, 2015 / Nature Communications, 5:3383, 2014
Abstract
In two-dimensional (2D) electronic devices, heterointerfaces between dissimilar 2D materials are essential for mechanical support and electrical integration, yet they can alter interfacial electronic structure and reaction kinetics. The long-term influence of interfacial material pairing on reactivity under ambient exposure remains poorly understood. Here, it is revealed that oxidation of 2H-MoTe2 proceeds rapidly through defect-driven pathways on insulating layers, whereas metallic contacts strongly suppress such degradation during extended ambient exposure. This suppression arises from the rapid delocalization of oxidation-induced carriers into the metallic layer, as confirmed by first-principles calculations showing long-range electronic perturbations, which lowers local reactivity and favors gradual basal-plane oxidation. To further elucidate the role of oxygen and moisture during ambient aging, controlled exposures to these species are performed, revealing that oxygen primarily drives basal-plane oxidation while moisture accelerates defect-site corrosion. The work on heterointerface-mediated charge redistribution and active species-induced degradation provides a framework for examining oxidation mechanisms in air-sensitive 2D materials and for designing passivation strategies to achieve long-term stable device integration.