Ordered and Disordered Phases in Mo(1−x)W(x)S(2) Monolayer

With special quasirandom structure approach and cluster expansion method combined with first-principle calculations, we explore the structure and electronic properties of monolayer Mo(1−x)W(x)S(2) alloy with disordered phase and ordered phase. The phase transition from ordered phase to disordered phase is found to happen at 41 K and 43 K for x = 1/3 and x = 2/3, respectively. The band edge of VBM is just related with the composition x, while the band edge of CBM is sensitive to the degree of order, besides the concentration of W. Near the CBM band edge, there are two bands with the Mo-character and W-character, respectively. It is found that in disordered phase the Mo-character band is mixed with the W-character band, while the opposite happens in ordered phase. This result leads to that the splitting of two bands near CBM in ordered phase is larger than in disordered phase and gives rise to the smaller band gap in ordered phase compared to the disordered phase. The electron effective mass in ordered phase is smaller than in disordered phase, while the heavy hole effective mass in ordered phase is larger than that in disordered phase.