Van der Waals integration of artificial heterostructures and high-order superlattices

Abstract

The recent blossom in 2D atomic crystals (2DACs) has ignited intense interest in a new type of bond-free van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs), in which distinct material components are physically brought together within a vdW distance and held together by weak vdW interactions. Without direct chemical bonding between the constituent materials, the vdWHs negate the lattice matching requirements in typical epitaxially bonded heterostructures. Here we briefly summarize the key advances in the construction and fundamental investigation of versatile vdWHs from diverse 2DACs and beyond, and highlight a unique class of vdW superlattices (vdWSLs) consisting of alternating 2D atomic layers and/or self-assembled molecular layers, with tailored structural symmetry, electronic band modulation, interlayer coupling, and chirality. Lastly, we conclude with a brief outlook on the opportunities in exploring such artificial materials to unlock previously inaccessible physical limits and enable new device concepts beyond the reach of the existing materials.