Revisiting Dynamical Theory To Elucidate Friedel’s Law Breaking in Low-Energy Electron Diffraction as Strong Evidence of Unidirectional Growth of Monolayer 2H MoS 2
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Unidirectional growth of monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) holds immense promise for next-generation 2D electronics, yet robust and facile characterization techniques to verify its single-crystal characteristics at the wafer scale remain elusive. Although 3-fold symmetric low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) patterns have been presented as evidence of such growth, their fundamental origin and precise link to MoS 2 orientation have not been clearly understood. Here, we revisit dynamical theory to elucidate Friedel’s law breaking in LEED, providing a comprehensive understanding of energy-dependent LEED intensities that uniquely confirm unidirectional growth of the monolayer 2H MoS 2 . By systematically acquiring LEED intensity–voltage ( I – V ) curves, we reveal that the distinct intensity asymmetries observed in symmetry-related diffraction spots directly reflect the non-centrosymmetric characteristic of the MoS 2 monolayer, amplified by dynamical scattering. This approach allows an unambiguous determination of the monolayer orientation, addressing a critical gap in the qualitative interpretation of LEED.
Source: Nano Letters
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W7119524239