Atomically Precise Fabrication of Ultranarrow Zigzag CuTe Nanoribbons via Dimensional Regulation

Artificial dimension control has been playing a vital role in electronic structure manipulation and properties generation. However, systematic investigations into the dimensional regulation, such as transformation from two-dimensional (2D) materials to well-controlled one-dimensional (1D) ribbons, remain insufficient via molecular beam epitaxy. Here, high-quality ultranarrow zigzag CuTe nanoribbons are atomically precisely prepared via the dimensional regulation induced by adjusting the Te chemical potential, utilizing CuSe monolayer as the starting 2D template. Introducing Te atoms into the CuSe monolayer and subsequent annealing, Te atoms replace Se atoms within CuSe lattice. As the Te substitution ratio increases, strain accumulates and elongated nanopores emerge, which expand and interconnect to form 1D CuSe