Ultra-thin double-layered hexagonal CuI: strain tunable properties and robust semiconducting behavior

In this study, the freestanding form of ultra-thin CuI crystals, which have recently been synthesized experimentally, and their strain-dependent properties are investigated by means of density functional theory calculations. Structural optimizations show that CuI crystallizes in a double-layered hexagonal crystal (DLHC) structure. While phonon calculations predict that DLHC CuI crystals are dynamically stable, subsequent vibrational spectrum analyzes reveal that this structure has four unique Raman-active modes, allowing it to be easily distinguished from similar ultra-thin two-dimensional materials. Electronically, DLHC CuI is found to be a semiconductor with a direct band gap of 3.24 eV which is larger than that of its wurtzite and zincblende phases. Furthermore, it is found that in both armchair (AC) and zigzag (ZZ) orientations the elastic instabilities occur over the high strain strengths indicating the soft nature of CuI layer. In addition, the stress-strain curve along the AC direction reveal that DLHC CuI undergoes a structural phase transition between the 4% and 5% tensile uniaxial strains as indicated by a sudden drop of the stress in the lattice. Moreover, the phonon band dispersions show that the phononic instability occurs at much smaller strain along the ZZ direction than that of along the AC direction. Furthermore, the external strain direction can be deduced from the predicted Raman spectra through the splitting rates of the doubly degenerate in-plane vibrations. The mobility of the hole carriers display highly anisotropic characteristic as the applied strain reaches 5% along the AC direction. Due to its anomalous strain-dependent electronic features and elastically soft nature, DLHC of CuI is a potential candidate for future electro-mechanical applications.