3D Mapping of Defects and Moiré Corrugations via Electron Ptychography Atomic Coordinate Retrieval

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Huang, Jeffrey, Zhang, Yichao, Bae, Sang hyun, Ahammed, Ballal, Ertekin, Elif, Huang, Pinshane Y.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Huang, Jeffrey
Zhang, Yichao
Bae, Sang hyun
Ahammed, Ballal
Ertekin, Elif
Huang, Pinshane Y.
author_facet Huang, Jeffrey
Zhang, Yichao
Bae, Sang hyun
Ahammed, Ballal
Ertekin, Elif
Huang, Pinshane Y.
contents Defects and reconstructions in 2D moiré materials cause out-of-plane deformations which strongly modify their electronic properties but are difficult to experimentally access. Here, we solve the 3D atomic coordinates of twisted bilayer WSe$_2$ with picometer-scale accuracy using multislice electron ptychography (MEP) acquired from a single orientation. The resulting atomic models individually visualize each of the six atomic planes, revealing the curvature of each WSe$_2$ layer, variations in the interlayer spacing, and the 3D locations of individual vacancies -- which lie exclusively in the outer Se planes. We also observe a new, unexpected type of structural disorder consisting of mixed bending -- and breathing-type moiré-induced corrugations that should strongly impact the emergent electronic properties. Broadly, our methods generate 3D atom-by-atom models of a 2D heterointerface from data acquired in about 30 seconds, methods that should unlock routine access to 3D atomic information in 2D systems and catalyze design methods to control out-of-plane deformations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_07140
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle 3D Mapping of Defects and Moiré Corrugations via Electron Ptychography Atomic Coordinate Retrieval
Huang, Jeffrey
Zhang, Yichao
Bae, Sang hyun
Ahammed, Ballal
Ertekin, Elif
Huang, Pinshane Y.
Materials Science
Defects and reconstructions in 2D moiré materials cause out-of-plane deformations which strongly modify their electronic properties but are difficult to experimentally access. Here, we solve the 3D atomic coordinates of twisted bilayer WSe$_2$ with picometer-scale accuracy using multislice electron ptychography (MEP) acquired from a single orientation. The resulting atomic models individually visualize each of the six atomic planes, revealing the curvature of each WSe$_2$ layer, variations in the interlayer spacing, and the 3D locations of individual vacancies -- which lie exclusively in the outer Se planes. We also observe a new, unexpected type of structural disorder consisting of mixed bending -- and breathing-type moiré-induced corrugations that should strongly impact the emergent electronic properties. Broadly, our methods generate 3D atom-by-atom models of a 2D heterointerface from data acquired in about 30 seconds, methods that should unlock routine access to 3D atomic information in 2D systems and catalyze design methods to control out-of-plane deformations.
title 3D Mapping of Defects and Moiré Corrugations via Electron Ptychography Atomic Coordinate Retrieval
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.07140