journal article·2026-02-03

Contemporary Challenges in van der Waals 2D Semiconductors

Balakrishnan Kirubasankar, Ashok Mondal, Seok Joon Yun, Debottam Daw, Yongshan Xu, Lan-Anh T. Nguyen, Yeonjeong Koo, Kamal Kumar Paul, Heemyoung Hong, Hyeongwoo Lee, Yuting Luo, Kailang Liu, Naoki Higashitarumizu, Daniel Erkensten, Chang Yun Heo, Yu-Rim Jeon, Taemin Lee, Dae-Hyun Nam, Xinghui Liu, Soo Min Kim, Dinh Loc Duong, Qinke Wu, Deji Akinwande, Mark C. Hersam, Ali Javey, Ermin Malic, Bilu Liu, Tianyou Zhai, Heejun Yang, Kyoung-Duck Park, Ki Kang Kim, Young Hee Lee

ACS Nano· Volume 20· Issue 4
Publisher page

Abstract

van der Waals (vdW) layered semiconductors have emerged as a unique class of quantum materials distinguished from their bulk counterparts by reduced dielectric screening, strong Coulomb interactions, large exciton binding energies, strong spin-orbit coupling, and pronounced thickness-dependent band structures. These fundamental attributes have enabled the exploration of exotic many-body physics and a broad spectrum of device applications, ranging from field-effect transistors and ferroelectric switches to optoelectronics, magnetic semiconductors, neuromorphic computing, and energy harvesting systems. Despite remarkable advances, critical challenges remain in the controlled synthesis of high-quality crystals, formation of low-resistance contacts, integration of stable and scalable gate dielectrics, and reliable device performance at the wafer scale. In this mega-review, we provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary challenges and future opportunities in vdW-layered semiconductors, structured across nine themes: growth and heterostructures of transition metal dichalcogenides, Ohmic contacts, emerging gate dielectrics, high-performance low-power field-effect transistors (FETs), diluted magnetic semiconductors, plasmonics and exciton propagation, hot-carrier solar cells, bioinspired neuromorphic computing, and electrocatalytic/photocatalytic energy conversion. By consolidating fundamental insights and device-level perspectives, this review aims to chart a roadmap for advancing vdW semiconductors from laboratory-scale discoveries to transformative technologies in electronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, and sustainable energy systems.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: 2D Materials and Applications · Graphene research and applications · MXene and MAX Phase Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Center for Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials

Hubei University of Technology

Department of Energy Science

Sungkyunkwan University

Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics

Department of Semiconductor Physics and Engineering

University of Ulsan

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die and Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Department of Physics

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, United Kingdom

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School

Tsinghua University

Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

University of California

Materials Sciences Division

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Nanyang Technological University

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Chandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin

Department of Energy Science and Engineering

Funding

Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea · National Outstanding Youth Science Fund Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China · Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology · Hubei University of Technology · Department of Education of Guangdong Province · Institute for Basic Science · National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars · National Natural Science Foundation of China · UK Research and Innovation · Basic Energy Sciences · Sookmyung Women's University · National Research Foundation of Korea · Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province · Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft · Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School-Shenzhen Pengrui Young Faculty Program of Shenzhen Pengrui Foundation · Suzhou Laboratory

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