Growth and Raman Scattering Investigation of a New 2D MOX Material: YbOCl

MOX (M = Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, Lanthanide, or Actinide metals; O = oxygen, X = F, Cl, Br, I), an emerging type of 2D layered materials, have been theoretically predicted to possess unique electronic and magnetic properties. However, 2D MOX have rarely been investigated. Herein, for the first time, ultrathin high-quality ytterbium oxychloride (YbOCl) single crystals are successfully synthesized via an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition method. Both theoretical simulations and experimental measurements are utilized to systematically investigate the Raman properties of 2D YbOCl nanosheets. The experimentally observed E-g mode at 85.53 cm(-1) and A(1g) mode at 138.17 cm(-1) demonstrate a good match to the results from density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, the temperature-dependent and thickness-dependent Raman scattering spectra reveal the adjacent layers in YbOCl nanosheets show a relatively weak van der Waals interaction. Additionally, the polarized-dependent Raman scattering spectra show the intensity of A(1g) mode exhibits twofold patterns while the intensity of the E-g mode remains constant as the rotation angle changes. These findings could provide the first-hand experimental information about the 2D YbOCl crystals.