Electron Beam Manipulation on the Moiré Superlattice of Bilayer WS 2

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Authors: Xiaohui Zeng, Chuang Tian, Dong Zhang, Guanghui Yu, Yuan Hu, Jun Li, Kecheng Cao
Cited by: 0
References: 37

Abstract

The moiré superlattice in twisted transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) offers a versatile platform for exploring electronic properties and correlated quantum phenomena. However, conventional fabrication methods using transfer and stacking techniques suffer from interfacial contamination and limited scalability. Here, we introduce an in situ focused electron beam irradiation approach to dynamically manipulate and characterize the moiré superlattice in bilayer 2 H -WS 2 in TEM. We achieve real-time moiré pattern control, enabling precise twist angle adjustments (6–10°). Prolonged irradiation induces displacement of tungsten (W) and sulfur (S) atoms from the moiré superlattice, which migrate to heal vacancies in adjacent monolayers, ultimately collapsing the superlattice into a WS 2 monolayer and revealing an unexpected atomic-scale self-repair mechanism. This technique advances the study of twistronics in 2D quantum materials by providing a pathway for atomically precise engineering of moiré-driven electronic states while highlighting the potential of electron beam lithography (EBL) for the controllable fabrication of moiré devices.

Fields of Study & Subjects

2D Materials and Applications Graphene research and applications Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Publication details

Journal / source
Nano Letters
Volume
26
Issue
5
Pages
1872–1879
Publication date
30 January 2026
Language
EN