Laser-Driven Heat Accumulation in Polymorphic Mo0.9W0.1Te2 Alloy

Abstract

Thermal transport in two-dimensional materials critically governs local temperature profiles in nanoscale systems, where spatial confinement can fundamentally alter heat accumulation and dissipation pathways. Here, we uncover laser-driven heat accumulation enabled by interfacial thermal confinement as an effective mechanism for controlling structural phase transitions in polymorphic Mo0.9W0.1Te2. By introducing an interfacial air-gap thermal insulator, we demonstrate that heat dissipation is suppressed, resulting in pronounced local heat accumulation under focused laser irradiation. This confinement-driven heating substantially lowers the threshold for the 2H-to-1T′ transition, enabling deterministic phase transition at reduced power and exposure time. The air-gap-induced thermal resistance directly links laser-driven heat accumulation to structural phase transitions. Our results establish nanoscale thermal confinement as an effective approach to controlling local heat accumulation and spatially selective phase transformation in two-dimensional materials, offering a versatile thermal engineering strategy for future nanoelectronic platforms.