Multifunctional Oxide Nanosheets: Frictional, Hall, and Piezoelectric Deformation of 2D Ga2O3
Atomically thin oxides are increasingly recognized as an emerging class of 2D materials, yet their multifunctional properties have been far less investigated compared to other layered materials. Among these, gallium oxide is distinguished by its ultrawide bandgap, thermal stability, and mechanical rigidity, positioning it as a candidate material for nanoelectromechanical systems. In this study, the tribological, transport, and electromechanical properties of beta-Ga2O3 nanosheets were probed using atomic force microscopy (AFM)--based techniques. Friction force microscopy (FFM) was used to investigate interfacial sliding, and a dependence of friction on external bias was observed, which was attributed to defect-mediated charge trapping. Van der Pauw Hall measurements were conducted up to 400 $^{\circ}$C, through which the ultrawide bandgap nature of beta-Ga2O3 was confirmed, as electronic transport remained suppressed despite high thermal activation. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was further applied, and a measurable converse electromechanical response on the order of a few pm/V was revealed, consistent with oxygen-vacancy--induced symmetry breaking. By integrating tribological, electrical, and electromechanical measurements, it was demonstrated that beta-Ga2O3 nanosheets present a unique platform in which insulating stability, bias-tunable interfacial mechanics, and defect-enabled electromechanical activity coexist, offering new opportunities for multifunctional oxide nanodevices.