Giant Transport Anisotropy in ReS₂ Revealed via Nanoscale Conducting-Path Control

Authors

Dawei Li, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Shuo Sun, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jingfeng Song, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Ding-Fu Shao, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Stephen Ducharme, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Xia Hong, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Dawei Li https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6967-4968

Zhiyong Xiao https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2461-2338

Jingfeng Song https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3463-0196

Ding-Fu Shao https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2732-4131

Evgeny Y. Tsymbal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6728-5480

Xia Hong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7873-5774

Date of this Version

9-24-2021

Citation

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 127, 136803 (2021)

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.136803

Comments

Copyright © 2021 American Physical Society. Used by permission.

Abstract

The low in-plane symmetry in layered 1T’-ReS₂ results in strong band anisotropy, while its manifestation in the electronic properties is challenging to resolve due to the lack of effective approaches for controlling the local current path. In this work, we reveal the giant transport anisotropy in monolayer to four-layer ReS2 by creating directional conducting paths via nanoscale ferroelectric control. By reversing the polarization of a ferroelectric polymer top layer, we induce a conductivity switching ratio of >1.5 × 10⁸ in the ReS2 channel at 300 K. Characterizing the domain-defined conducting nanowires in an insulating background shows that the conductivity ratio between the directions along and perpendicular to the Re chain can exceed 5.5 × 10⁴ in monolayer ReS₂. Theoretical modeling points to the band origin of the transport anomaly and further reveals the emergence of a flat band in few-layer ReS₂. Our work paves the path for implementing highly anisotropic 2D materials for designing novel collective phenomena and electron lensing applications.