Tuning the electronic properties, effective mass and carrier mobility of MoS2 monolayer by strain engineering: first-principle calculations

Abstract

In this paper, we studied the electronic properties, effective masses, and carrier mobility of monolayer MoS2 using density functional theory calculations. The carrier mobility was considered by means of ab initio calculations using the Boltzmann transport equation coupled with deformation potential theory. The effects of mechanical biaxial strain on the electronic properties, effective mass, and carrier mobility of monolayer MoS2 were also investigated. It is demonstrated that the electronic properties, such as band structure and density of state, of monolayer MoS2 are very sensitive to biaxial strain, leading to a direct–indirect transition in semiconductor monolayer MoS2. Moreover, we found that the carrier mobility and effective mass can be enhanced significantly by biaxial strain and by lowering temperature. The electron mobility increases over 12 times with a biaxial strain of 10%, while the carrier mobility gradually decreases with increasing temperature. These results are very useful for the future nanotechnology, and they make monolayer MoS2 a promising candidate for application in nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices.