# 2D Materials & Van der Waals Heterostructures Domain: Materials & Nanotechnology · 248 papers indexed · newest 2026-10-27 Graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, 2D magnets, moire excitons and van der Waals device engineering. Key concepts: van der Waals heterostructure, transition metal dichalcogenide, 2D magnet, moire exciton, two-dimensional material, graphene ## Most influential - **[Van der Waals heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1307.6718)**. A. K. Geim, I. V. Grigorieva · 2013 · Nature 499, 419-425 (2013) (arXiv:1307.6718 · doi:10.1038/nature12385 · 10,926 citations). Source: > Research on graphene and other two-dimensional atomic crystals is intense and likely to remain one of the hottest topics in condensed matter physics and materials science for many years. Looking beyond this field, isolated atomic planes can also be reassembled into designer heterostructures made layer by layer in a precisely chosen sequence. The first - already remarkably complex - such heterostructures (referred to as 'van der Waals') have recently been fabricated and investigated revealing unusual properties and new phenomena. Here we review this emerging research area and attempt to identif… - **[2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1608.03059)**. Kostya S. Novoselov, Artem Mishchenko, Alexandra Carvalho et al. · 2016 · Science (arXiv:1608.03059 · doi:10.1126/science.aac9439 · 7,465 citations). Source: > The physics of two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures based on such crystals has been developing extremely fast. With new 2D materials, truly 2D physics has started to appear (e.g. absence of long-range order, 2D excitons, commensurate-incommensurate transition, etc). Novel heterostructure devices are also starting to appear - tunneling transistors, resonant tunneling diodes, light emitting diodes, etc. Composed from individual 2D crystals, such devices utilize the properties of those crystals to create functionalities that are not accessible to us in other heterostructures. We re… - **[Correlated insulator behaviour at half-filling in magic-angle graphene superlattices](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1802.00553)**. Yuan Cao, Valla Fatemi, Ahmet Demir et al. · 2018 · Nature (arXiv:1802.00553 · doi:10.1038/nature26154 · 4,884 citations). Source: > Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are an emergent class of metamaterials comprised of vertically stacked two-dimensional (2D) building blocks, which provide us with a vast tool set to engineer their properties on top of the already rich tunability of 2D materials. One of the knobs, the twist angle between different layers, plays a crucial role in the ultimate electronic properties of a vdW heterostructure and does not have a direct analog in other systems such as MBE-grown semiconductor heterostructures. For small twist angles, the moiré pattern produced by the lattice misorientation create… - **[Van der Waals heterostructures and devices](https://space-kitty.com/papers/doi:10.1038/natrevmats.2016.42)**. Yuan Liu, Nathan O. Weiss, Xidong Duan et al. · 2016 · Nature Reviews Materials (doi:10.1038/natrevmats.2016.42 · 2,813 citations). Source: - **[Catalysis with two-dimensional materials and their heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/doi:10.1038/nnano.2015.340)**. Dehui Deng, Kostya S. Novoselov, Qiang Fu et al. · 2016 · Nature Nanotechnology (doi:10.1038/nnano.2015.340 · 2,312 citations). Source: - **[Ultrafast charge transfer in atomically thin MoS2/WS2 heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1407.6395)**. Xiaoping Hong, Jonghwan Kim, Su‐Fei Shi et al. · 2014 · Nature Nanotechnology (arXiv:1407.6395 · doi:10.1038/nnano.2014.167 · 2,309 citations). Source: > Van der Waals heterostructures have recently emerged as a new class of materials, where quantum coupling between stacked atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) layers, including graphene, hexagonal-boron nitride, and transition metal dichalcogenides (MX2), give rise to fascinating new phenomena. MX2 heterostructures are particularly exciting for novel optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications, because 2D MX2 monolayers can have an optical bandgap in the near-infrared to visible spectral range and exhibit extremely strong light-matter interactions. Theory predicts that many stacked MX2 heteros… - **[Magnetic 2D materials and heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1910.03425)**. M. Gibertini, Maciej Koperski, Alberto F. Morpurgo et al. · 2019 · Nature Nanotechnology (arXiv:1910.03425 · doi:10.1038/s41565-019-0438-6 · 1,786 citations). Source: > The family of 2D materials grows day by day, drastically expanding the scope of possible phenomena to be explored in two dimensions, as well as the possible van der Waals heterostructures that one can create. Such 2D materials currently cover a vast range of properties. Until recently, this family has been missing one crucial member - 2D magnets. The situation has changed over the last two years with the introduction of a variety of atomically-thin magnetic crystals. Here we will discuss the difference between magnetic states in 2D materials and in bulk crystals and present an overview of the … - **[Quantum spin Hall effect in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1406.2749)**. Xiaofeng Qian, Junwei Liu, Liang Fu et al. · 2014 · Science (arXiv:1406.2749 · doi:10.1126/science.1256815 · 2,056 citations). Source: > We report a new class of large-gap quantum spin Hall insulators in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, namely, MX$\_2$ with M=(Mo, W) and X=(S, Se, and Te), whose topological electronic properties are highly tunable by external electric field. We propose a novel topological field effect transistor made of these atomic layer materials and their van der Waals heterostructures. Our device exhibits parametrically enhanced charge-spin conductance through topologically protected transport channels, and can be rapidly switched off by electric field through topological phase transition in… - **[Two-dimensional magnetic crystals and emergent heterostructure devices](https://space-kitty.com/papers/doi:10.1126/science.aav4450)**. Cheng Gong, Xiang Zhang · 2019 · Science (doi:10.1126/science.aav4450 · 1,684 citations). Source: - **[Vertical field-effect transistor based on graphene–WS2 heterostructures for flexible and transparent electronics](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1211.5090)**. Thanasis Georgiou, R. Jalil, Branson D. Belle et al. · 2012 · Nature Nanotechnology (arXiv:1211.5090 · doi:10.1038/nnano.2012.224 · 1,752 citations). Source: > The celebrated electronic properties of graphene have opened way for materials just one-atom-thick to be used in the post-silicon electronic era. An important milestone was the creation of heterostructures based on graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) crystals, which can be assembled in 3D stacks with atomic layer precision. These layered structures have already led to a range of fascinating physical phenomena, and also have been used in demonstrating a prototype field effect tunnelling transistor - a candidate for post-CMOS technology. The range of possible materials which could be incorpo… - **[Observation of long-lived interlayer excitons in monolayer MoSe2–WSe2 heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1403.4985)**. Pasqual Rivera, John R. Schaibley, Aaron M. Jones et al. · 2015 · Nature Communications (arXiv:1403.4985 · doi:10.1038/ncomms7242 · 1,693 citations). Source: > Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene1, boron nitride2, and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)3-5, have sparked wide interest in both device physics and technological applications at the atomic monolayer limit. These 2D monolayers can be stacked together with precise control to form novel van der Waals heterostructures for new functionalities2,6-9. One highly coveted but yet to be realized heterostructure is that of differing monolayer TMDs with type II band alignment10-12. Their application potential hinges on the fabrication, understanding, and control of bonded monolayers, w… - **[Van der Waals integration before and beyond two-dimensional materials](https://space-kitty.com/papers/doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1013-x)**. Yuan Liu, Yu Huang, Xiangfeng Duan · 2019 · Nature (doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1013-x · 1,552 citations). Source: - **[Mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1608.00515)**. Deep Jariwala, Tobin Jay Marks, Mark C. Hersam · 2016 · Nature Materials (arXiv:1608.00515 · doi:10.1038/nmat4703 · 1,609 citations). Source: > The isolation of a growing number of two-dimensional (2D) materials has inspired worldwide efforts to integrate distinct 2D materials into van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. Given that any passivated, dangling bond-free surface will interact with another via vdW forces, the vdW heterostructure concept can be extended to include the integration of 2D materials with non-2D materials that adhere primarily through noncovalent interactions. In this review, we present a succinct and critical survey of emerging mixed-dimensional (2D + nD, where n is 0, 1 or 3) heterostructure devices. By comparing… - **[Prediction of intrinsic two-dimensional ferroelectrics in In2Se3 and other III2-VI3 van der Waals materials](https://space-kitty.com/papers/doi:10.1038/ncomms14956)**. Wenjun Ding, Jianbao Zhu, Zhe Wang et al. · 2017 · Nature Communications (doi:10.1038/ncomms14956 · 1,458 citations). Source: > Abstract Interest in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials has grown rapidly across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines in recent years. However, ferroelectricity, the presence of a spontaneous electric polarization, which is important in many practical applications, has rarely been reported in such materials so far. Here we employ first-principles calculations to discover a branch of the 2D materials family, based on In 2 Se 3 and other III 2 -VI 3 van der Waals materials, that exhibits room-temperature ferroelectricity with reversible spontaneous electric polarization in b… > _Abstract excerpt by Wenjun Ding et al., CC-BY, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14956; truncated._ - **[Evidence for moiré excitons in van der Waals heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:1807.03771)**. Kha Tran, Galan Moody, Fengcheng Wu et al. · 2019 · Nature (arXiv:1807.03771 · doi:10.1038/s41586-019-0975-z · 1,378 citations). Source: > In van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures formed by stacking two monolayer semiconductors, lattice mismatch or rotational misalignment introduces an in-plane moiré superlattice. While it is widely recognized that a moiré superlattice can modulate the electronic band structure and lead to novel transport properties including unconventional superconductivity and insulating behavior driven by correlations, its influence on optical properties has not been investigated experimentally. We present spectroscopic evidence that interlayer excitons are confined by the moiré potential in a high-quality MoSe… ## Newest - **[Beyond Geometry: Hole-Edge Atomic Configuration as a Design Variable in Graphyne Kirigami](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.36468)**. Guilherme B. Kanegae, Alexandre F. Fonseca · 2026 (arXiv:2610.36468). Source: - **[First-principles-based search for emergent topological spin textures in transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayers](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.36542)**. Yuhyun Cha, Do Hoon Kiem, Myung Joon Han · 2026 · npj Comput. Mater. 12, 292 (2026) (arXiv:2610.36542 · doi:10.1038/s41524-026-02162-2). Source: - **[First-Principles Investigation of Irida-Graphane: A Wide-Band-Gap Semiconductor Derived from Irida-Graphene](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.37095)**. Djardiel S. Gomes, Isaac M. Félix, Marcelo L. Pereira Junior · 2026 (arXiv:2610.37095). Source: - **[Electric Field-Induced Hole- and Electron-Type Flat Bands in Twisted Double Bilayer Graphene](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.37402)**. Zhihao Jiang, Dongkyu Lee, Alfred J. H. Jones et al. · 2026 · Advanced Electronic Materials, 2026;12:e00882 (arXiv:2610.37402 · doi:10.1002/aelm.202500882). Source: - **[Nanoscale mapping of native defects in Td-MoTe2 and their impact on graphene-based van der Waals heterostructures](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.34924)**. Wojciech Ryś, Iaroslav Lutsyk, Mindaugas Lukosius et al. · 2026 (arXiv:2610.34924). Source: - **[High-efficiency solid-state electrochemical thermal switching through phonon engineering of 2D materials](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.35547)**. Harry Mclean, Steven Paul Hepplestone · 2026 (arXiv:2610.35547). Source: - **[Information-theoretic entropy imaging of quantum matter](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.35790)**. Chen Wu, Leonard W. Cao, Lingyuan Lyu et al. · 2026 (arXiv:2610.35790). Source: - **[Confinement, registry and spin in chromium migration between graphene layers](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.36197)**. Mingguang Chen, Senfu Zhang · 2026 (arXiv:2610.36197). Source: - **[Spin Relaxation and Electrical Control of Spin Transport in Few-Layer $T\_{\\rm d}$-MoTe$\_2$](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.36399)**. T. Wakamura, M. Hashisaka, M. Bard et al. · 2026 (arXiv:2610.36399). Source: - **[Momentum-selective graphene spectroscopy of moiré excitons](https://space-kitty.com/papers/arxiv:2610.33989)**. Katsunori Wakabayashi · 2026 (arXiv:2610.33989). Source: --- Space Kitty Archive · https://space-kitty.com · API: https://space-kitty.com/api/v1 · MCP: https://space-kitty.com/mcp · Premium: $0.20/request via x402 (Base Sepolia (testnet)). Metadata: arXiv (CC0), OpenAlex (CC0), Europe PMC (CC BY/CC0 works), ClinicalTrials.gov.