Direct Visualization of Large‐Scale Intrinsic Atomic Lattice Structure and Its Collective Anisotropy in Air‐Sensitive Monolayer 1T’‐ WTe<sub>2</sub>
Kangdi Niu, Mouyi Weng, Songge Li, Zenglong Guo, Gang Wang, Mengjiao Han, Feng Pan, Junhao Lin
Abstract
Abstract Probing large‐scale intrinsic structure of air‐sensitive 2D materials with atomic resolution is so far challenging due to their rapid oxidization and contamination. Here, by keeping the whole experiment including growth, transfer, and characterizations in an interconnected atmosphere‐control environment, the large‐scale intact lattice structure of air‐sensitive monolayer 1T’‐WTe 2 is directly visualized by atom‐resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy. Benefit from the large‐scale atomic mapping, collective lattice distortions are further unveiled due to the presence of anisotropic rippling, which propagates perpendicular to only one of the preferential lattice planes in the same WTe 2 monolayer. Such anisotropic lattice rippling modulates the intrinsic point defect (Te vacancy) distribution, in which they aggregate at the constrictive inner side of the undulating structure, presumably due to the ripple‐induced asymmetric strain as elaborated by density functional theory. The results pave the way for atomic characterizations and defect engineering of air‐sensitive 2D layered materials.