Synthesis of two-dimensional semiconductor single-crystal PtSe₂ under high pressure

Single-crystal platinum diselenide (PtSe₂) is successfully synthesized through direct reaction of metal platinum foil and selenium powder under high pressure and high temperature. Characterizations are performed by scanning electron microscopy observation, X-ray diffraction technique and atomic force microscopy, which show that the largest crystallite size is more than 15 microns. Our studies not only lead to a new method for the growth of single-crystal PtSe₂ under high pressure, but also provide a new technique and method in expanding the family of transition-metal dichalcogenides.