MoSi2N4 single-layer: a novel two-dimensional material with outstanding mechanical, thermal, electronic, optical, and photocatalytic properties

Very recently, the two-dimensional (2D) form of MoSi2N4 has been successfully fabricated [Hong et al., Sci. 369, 670 (2020)]. Motivated by theses recent experimental results, herein we investigate the structural, mechanical, thermal, electronic, optical and photocatalytic properties using hybrid density functional theory (HSE06-DFT). Phonon band dispersion calculations reveal the dynamical stability of MoSi2N4 monolayer structure. Furthermore, the mechanical study confirms the stability of MoSi2N4 monolayer. As compared to the corresponding value of graphene, we find the Youngs modulus decreases by 30% while the Poissons ratio increases by 30%. In addition, its work function is very similar to that of phosphorene and MoS2 monolayers. The electronic structure investigation shows the MoSi2N4 monolayer is an indirect bandgap semiconductor. We have determined the bandgap using the HSE06 (GGA) is 2.35 (1.79) eV, which is an overestimated (underestimated) value of the experimental bandgap (1.99 eV). The thermoelectric study shows a good thermoelectric performance of the MoSi2N4 monolayer with a figure of merit slightly larger than unity at high temperatures. The optical analysis using the RPA method constructed over HSE06 shows that the first absorption peak of the MoSi2N4 monolayer for in-plane polarization is located in the visible range of spectrum, i.e. it is a promising candidate for advancing optoelectronic nanodevices. The photocatalytic study indicates the MoSi2N4 monloayer can be a promising photocatalyst for water splitting as well as and CO2 reduction. In summary, the fascinating MoSi2N4 monloayer is a promising 2D material in many applications due to its unique physical properties.