Optimized Sonochemical Exfoliation of Bulk 6H-SiC for the Synthesis of Multi-Layered SiC Nanosheets

In this study, a novel and rapid top-down synthesis method for the successful synthesis of few-layered 2D SiC is reported. Since the theoretical prediction of planar and stable 2D SiC with a direct bandgap, only a few experimental methods have overcome the challenging covalent sp³ hybridization of its bulk structure, unlike Van der Waals layered material bonding, making the synthesis of few-layered or mono-layered SiC more difficult due to the highly time- and energy-consuming methods. Moreover, correctly choosing between the more than 250 SiC polytypes increases the complexity of successful approaches to its 2D synthesis. This work reports, for the first time, multi-layered 2D SiC obtained using the wet ultrasonic probe sonochemical exfoliation method, reducing both the experimental synthesis time and energy consumption. Raman spectra showed the size-dependent correlation of the longitudinal optical (LO) mode, and IR showed the bond modification between bulk and nanostructured SiC. These results demonstrate a scalable and facile route for 2D SiC production; therefore, a wide variety of applications can be explored experimentally rather than theoretically, and methods such as the deposition of ScAlN layers onto SiN can be simplified in further studies.