Quantitative Modeling of Nanopore Formation in 2D MoS₂ by Swift Heavy-Ion Irradiation

Author(s)

Yossarian Liebsch, Aleksi Leino, Lukas Madauß, Rajendra Singh, Pedro Luis Grande, Kristina Tomić Luketić, Marko Karlušić, André Maas, Lars Breuer, Henning Lebius, Clara Grygiel, Maria Eugenia Toimil-Molares, Christina Trautmann, Alan T. Charlie Johnson, Mengqiang Zhao, Henrique Vazquez Muinos, Mukesh Tripathi, Shavkat Akhmadaliev, Jani Kotakoski, Flyura Djurabekova, Marika Schleberger

Abstract

Swift heavy-ion irradiation provides a versatile route for nanostructuring two-dimensional (2D) materials, with potential applications ranging from membrane engineering to electronic and sensing technologies. Here, we combine high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy with atomistic simulations to demonstrate controlled nanopore formation in monolayer MoS2, with pore sizes governed by stochastic energy transfer. By incorporating electron bunching, spatial straggling, and energy loss through escaping particles, our energy-transfer model quantitatively reproduces experimental pore size distributions and surpasses conventional stopping power predictions. These results deepen our understanding of ion–matter interactions in 2D systems and enable the controlled fabrication of functional nanostructures via ion irradiation.

Organisation(s)

Physics of Nanostructured Materials

External organisation(s)

Universität Duisburg-Essen, University of Helsinki, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, École nationale supérieure d'ingénieurs de Caen, CIMAP - Centre de recherche sur les Ions, les MAtériaux et la Photonique, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, University of Pennsylvania, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Journal

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Volume

18

Pages

7237–7248

No. of pages

12

ISSN

1944-8244

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c20044

Publication date

01-2026

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

210004 Nanomaterials, 103018 Materials physics

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/79b68569-2534-4ad5-a5c7-3bc4c6656e16