Master's thesis of Engineering: Preparation and piezoelectric properties of Group IV chalcogenides

The recent advances in the study of the unique capabilities of monolayer crystals had predicted piezoelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) group IV chalcogenides which are not present in their bulk forms. In this study, the predicted piezoelectric properties of was experimentally explored through Piezoelectric Force Microscopy (PFM). Tin Sulfide (SnS), Tin Selenide (SnSe), Germanium Sulfide (GeS), were exfoliated from their bulk forms by the top down methods of liquid sonication, while and Tin Disulfide (SnS2) mechanically exfoliated by tape. These two top-down methods in producing possible monolayers of these layered crystals were chosen for retaining pristine structures.