Dear Colleagues,

Two-dimensional (2D) systems, including van de Waals 2D materials, semiconductor surface reconstructions, etc., are some of the hottest material platforms in the past two decades due to their rich physical properties and potential for numerous applications. One major research direction focuses on multi-phase behaviours, which are rooted in the competition of the lattice, charge, and spin degree of freedom in these systems. Many intriguing electronic phases, including change/spin density wave, superconductivity, etc., can be produced when the system undergoes spontaneous symmetry-breaking at low temperature. The ground state of a 2D lattice is changed by tuning the system parameters, such as element substitution, charge doping or strain, while different sample preparation routes or external stimulations, such as light or electrical field, stabilise meta-state phases. Developing phase-tuning methods, characterising the phase diagram, and revealing the driven mechanism are all critical for exploring new physics and developing novel devices.

Based on these concepts, this Special Issue of Crystals, “Phase engineering of two-dimensional lattices” will provide a platform for researchers to report results and findings in tuning the phase of 2D lattices. Topics include (but are not limited to):

1) Phase transitions of a 2D van der Waals material or surface reconstruction.

2) Low-temperature phases such as superconductivity and change/spin density wave.

3) Charge doping/element substitution/strain method to a 2D lattice.

4) Growth method to produce different phases of 2D lattice.

5) Meta-stable phase stabilised by light or an electrical field.

6) Phase transition mechanisms of a 2D lattice

Dr. Fangfei Ming
Dr. Yaping Ma
Dr. Xuefeng Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• two-dimensional lattices
• surface reconstruction
• phase transition
• charge doping
• scanning tunneling microscopy
• meta-stable phase