Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is one of the most important two-dimensional materials after graphene. Monolayer MoS₂ has a direct bandgap (1.9 eV) and is potentially suitable for post-silicon electronics. Among all atomically thin semiconductors, MoS₂’s synthesis techniques are more developed. Here, we review the recent developments in the synthesis of hexagonal MoS₂, where they are categorized into top-down and bottom-up approaches. Micromechanical exfoliation is convenient for beginners and basic research. Liquid phase exfoliation and solutions for chemical processes are cheap and suitable for large-scale production; yielding materials mostly in powders with different shapes, sizes and layer numbers. MoS₂ films on a substrate targeting high-end nanoelectronic applications can be produced by chemical vapor deposition, compatible with the semiconductor industry. Usually, metal catalysts are unnecessary. Unlike graphene, the transfer of atomic layers is omitted. We especially emphasize the recent advances in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition, where gaseous precursors are used. These processes grow MoS₂ with the smallest building-blocks, naturally promising higher quality and controllability. Most likely, this will be an important direction in the field. Nevertheless, today none of those methods reproducibly produces MoS₂ with competitive quality. There is a long way to go for MoS₂ in real-life electronic device applications.

Electrochemical bubbling transfer of graphene is a technique with high industrial potential due to its scalability, time- and cost-effectiveness, and ecofriendliness. However, the graphene is often damaged due to the turbulence and the trapped bubbles formed by the direct H₂O and H⁺permeation through the supporting polymer. We invent a graphene mechanical support of polyethylene terephthalate foil/plastic frame/poly(methyl methacrylate) sandwich, with an encapsulated air gap as the permeation stopping layer. The graphene damage is drastically reduced, as confirmed by the morphology and structural and electrical characterization, ultimately improving the controllability/reproducibility of the bubbling transfer of graphene and other two-dimensional materials.

Micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) are the key to next-generation display technology. However, since the driving circuits are typically composed of Si devices, numerous micro-LED pixels must be transferred from their GaN substrate to bond with the Si field-effect transistors (FETs). This process is called massive transfer, which is arguably the largest obstacle preventing the commercialization of micro-LEDs. We combined GaN devices with emerging graphene transistors and for the first-time designed, fabricated, and measured a monolithic integrated device composed of a GaN micro-LED and a graphene FET connected in series. The p-electrode of the micro-LED was connected to the source of the driving transistor. The FET was used to tune the work current in the micro-LED. Meanwhile, the transparent electrode of the micro-LED was also made of graphene. The operation of the device was demonstrated in room temperature conditions. This research opens the gateway to a new field where other two-dimensional (2D) materials can be used as FET channel materials to further improve transfer properties. The 2D materials can in principle be grown directly onto GaN, which is reproducible and scalable. Also, considering the outstanding properties and versatility of 2D materials, it is possible to envision fully transparent micro-LED displays with transfer-free active matrices (AM), alongside an efficient thermal management solution.

Micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs), with their advantages of high response speed, long lifespan, high brightness, and reliability, are widely regarded as the core of next-generation display technology. However, due to issues such as high manufacturing costs and low external quantum efficiency (EQE), μLEDs have not yet been truly commercialized. Additionally, the color conversion efficiency (CCE) of quantum dot (QD)-μLEDs is also a major obstacle to its practical application in the display industry. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent applications of nanomaterials and nanostructures in μLEDs and discuss the practical effects of these methods on enhancing the luminous efficiency of μLEDs and the color conversion efficiency of QD-μLEDs. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for the commercialization of μLEDs are proposed.

NH- μ LED, namely a micro light-emitting diode structure with nano-holes dug all the way through the active region, is designed to make silver nanoparticles in extremely close contact with the quantum wells for improving the coupling between the localized surface plasmon and the quantum wells (LSP-QWs coupling) and thus enhancing the optical properties of the μ LED. The experimental results show that, thanks to this deep nanohole structure, the LSP-QWs coupling can be realized effectively, which ultimately increases the optical performance of the μ LED. The internal quantum efficiency of the NH- μ LED filled with silver nanoparticles is increased by 12%, and the final optical output power is also enhanced. We have further carried out a comparison study which measures the transient lifetime of two different types of μ LEDs, and the results provide convincing evidence for the existence of the ultra close range LSP-QWs coupling effect.

A capacitor-based circuit model is proposed to explain the electrochemical delamination of two-dimensional materials from their native substrates where produced gas bubbles squeeze into the interface. The delamination is actually the electric breakdown of the capacitor formed between the solution and substrate. To facilitate the procedure, the backside of the ubstrate has to be shielded so that the capacitor breakdown voltage can be reached. The screening effect can be induced either by nonreactive ions around the electrode or, more effectively, by an undetachable insulator. This mechanism serves as a guideline for the surface science and applications involving the bubbling delamination.