Controlling how two-dimensional (2D) materials nucleate and grow is a long-standing challenge in nanoscience. These atomically thin materials are widely seen as promising building blocks for future electronics, energy systems, catalysis, and advanced manufacturing, but their growth is often optimized through trial and error because the earliest stages of formation are extremely difficult to observe. Traditional ex-situ characterization usually captures only the final state, leaving the dynamic pathways of nucleation and early crystal development hidden inside a mechanistic “black box.” Because of these challenges, deeper study is needed to connect atomic-scale structural evolution with the scalable fabrication of high-quality 2D materials.
In the new Perspective, published (DOI: 10.1016/j.orig.2026.04.001) in Originality on 25 April 2026, Academician Hui-Ming Cheng builds on a recent Science study co-authored by Prof. Rongming Wang and colleagues, which revealed the atomic-scale nucleation and growth behavior of MoS₂ under chemical vapor deposition conditions, including not only a multistep nucleation pathway from amorphous clusters to 2D embryos to crystalline nuclei, but also aggregation and oriented attachment behaviors during the early growth stage that help reduce grain boundaries and facilitate single-crystal formation. The Originality article argues that this work does more than solve a materials-science puzzle: it provides a mechanistic foundation that could inform the controlled growth and eventual atomic manufacturing of 2D crystals.
The Science study showed that MoS₂ nucleation does not begin as a simple direct transition to an ordered crystal. Instead, the team observed a nonclassical, multistep route: precursor species first formed disordered amorphous clusters, which then evolved into layered 2D embryos with limited in-plane order, and only later rearranged into stable crystalline nuclei after reaching a critical size. The researchers also captured aggregation and oriented attachment in the early growth stage, processes that may help reduce grain boundaries and support the formation of high-quality 2D crystals. In the Originality Perspective, Cheng argues that this ability to watch structural and chemical evolution in real time is precisely what can move the field from experience-driven growth toward mechanism-driven manufacturing.
“This work suggests that in-situ atomic-scale characterization is becoming far more than an observational tool,” the article indicates. “By revealing how 2D crystals actually emerge, reorganize, and stabilize, it provides a framework for designing growth pathways instead of merely testing them after the fact.” In this view, the value of the in-situ MoS2 growth study lies not only in its insight into one material system, but also in its demonstration that atomic-resolution, real-time characterization can supply the missing mechanistic foundation needed for broader innovation in 2D crystal growth and atomic-scale manufacturing.
For Originality, the publication of this Perspective reflects the journal’s emphasis on originality, interdisciplinary frontiers, and globally relevant scientific ideas. By bringing a Science-level discovery into a broader discussion of atomic manufacturing, the journal positions itself not only as a venue for reporting important advances, but also as a platform for interpreting why those advances matter for the future of science and technology. As in-situ tools continue to improve in spatial resolution, environmental fidelity, and data interpretation, the Perspective suggests that they may help unlock more predictive and controllable routes to building tailored 2D materials for next-generation applications.
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References
DOI
10.1016/j.orig.2026.04.001
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orig.2026.04.001
About Originality
Originality (ISSN: 3051-2700) is an international, peer-reviewed journal co-owned by the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Peking University, and China Rural Special Technology Association, and is globally published by KeAi. Dedicated to originality and interdisciplinary innovation, the journal aims to build a world-class academic platform spanning Life Sciences, Agriculture and Food Systems, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Sciences. Originality welcomes original research that inspires and leads future scientific innovation in both specialized and interdisciplinary fields