Creating two-dimensional solid helium via diamond lattice confinement

Weitong Lin, Yiran Li, Sytze Graaf, Gang Wang, Junhao Lin, Hui Zhang, Shijun Zhao, Da Chen, Shaofei Liu, Jun Fan, Bart J. Kooi, Yang Lu, Tao Yang (), Chin-Hua Yang, Chain Tsuan Liu and Ji-jung Kai ()
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Weitong Lin: City University of Hong Kong
Yiran Li: Shanghai University
Sytze Graaf: University of Groningen
Gang Wang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Junhao Lin: Southern University of Science and Technology
Hui Zhang: Energy Geoscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Shijun Zhao: City University of Hong Kong
Da Chen: Southeast University
Shaofei Liu: City University of Hong Kong
Jun Fan: City University of Hong Kong
Bart J. Kooi: University of Groningen
Yang Lu: City University of Hong Kong
Tao Yang: City University of Hong Kong
Chin-Hua Yang: National Tsing Hua University
Chain Tsuan Liu: City University of Hong Kong
Ji-jung Kai: City University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The universe abounds with solid helium in polymorphic forms. Therefore, exploring the allotropes of helium remains vital to our understanding of nature. However, it is challenging to produce, observe and utilize solid helium on the earth because high-pressure techniques are required to solidify helium. Here we report the discovery of room-temperature two-dimensional solid helium through the diamond lattice confinement effect. Controllable ion implantation enables the self-assembly of monolayer helium atoms between {100} diamond lattice planes. Using state-of-the-art integrated differential phase contrast microscopy, we decipher the buckled tetragonal arrangement of solid helium monolayers with an anisotropic nature compressed by the robust diamond lattice. These distinctive helium monolayers, in turn, produce substantial compressive strains to the surrounded diamond lattice, resulting in a large-scale bandgap narrowing up to ~2.2 electron volts. This approach opens up new avenues for steerable manipulation of solid helium for achieving intrinsic strain doping with profound applications.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33601-5

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