journal article·2026-01Open access

Scalable Etch‐Free Transfer of Low‐Dimensional Materials From Metal Films to Diverse Substrates

Kentaro Yumigeta, Muhammed Yusufoglu, Mamun Sarker, Rishi Raj, Franco Daluisio, Richard Holloway, Howard Yawit, Thomas Sweepe, Julian Battaglia, Shelby Janssen, Alex C. Welch, Paul DiPasquale, K. Andre Mkhoyan, Alexander Sinitskii, Zafer Mutlu

Advanced Materials Interfaces· Volume 13· Issue 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Low‐dimensional materials hold great promises for exploring emergent physical phenomena, nanoelectronics, and quantum technologies. Their synthesis often depends on catalytic metal films, from which the synthesized materials must be transferred to insulating substrates to enable device functionality and minimize interfacial interactions during quantum investigations. Conventional transfer methods, such as chemical etching or electrochemical delamination, degrade material quality, limit scalability, or prove incompatible with complex device architectures. Here, a scalable, etch‐free transfer technique is presented, employing Field's metal (51% In, 32.5% Bi, and 16.5% Sn by weight) as a low‐melting‐point mechanical support to gently delaminate low‐dimensional materials from metal films without causing damage. Anchoring the metal film during separation prevents tearing and preserves material integrity. As a proof of concept, atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are transferred from Au(111)/mica to dielectric substrates, including silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) and single‐crystalline lanthanum oxychloride (LaOCl). Comprehensive characterization confirms the preservation of structural and chemical integrity throughout the transfer process. Wafer‐scale compatibility and device integration are demonstrated by fabricating GNR‐based field‐effect transistors (GNRFETs) that exhibit room‐temperature switching with on/off current ratios exceeding 10 3 . This method provides a scalable and versatile platform for integrating low‐dimensional materials into advanced low‐dimensional materials‐based technologies.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: 2D Materials and Applications · Graphene research and applications · Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides

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

Affiliations

Department of Materials Science & Engineering University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA

Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln Nebraska USA

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA

Department of Physics University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA

Funding

Semiconductor Research Corporation · U.S. Department of Energy · Office of Naval Research · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · National Science Foundation

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