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Our research group is focusing on the fundamental science and device applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials. 2D materials are crystalline sheets with only few atomic layers thick, whose properties can be metallic, insulating or semiconducting. Their unique material properties makes 2D materials form an unprecedented platform for exploring new fundamental physics and developing next-generation devices. Our research aims at three primary goals: synthesizing high quality 2D materials and their heterostructures, unveiling the underlying fundamental properties, and developing novel applications in photonic, electronic quantum devices. We synthesize 2D materials by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Through growth optimizations and understanding the deposition mechanisms of CVD, we are able to synthesize large-area and highly-oriented 2D materials with suppressed defects. Currently, we are focusing mostly on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), including MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂, etc. These semiconducting TMDs exhibit sizable bandgaps, large exciton binding energy and strong spin-orbit coupling strengths, hosting many exotic quantum phenomena which can enable novel applications for next-generation quantum devices. Last but not least, optical and electronic properties become even more interesting when we place TMDs into different structures. Such as stacking them on top of each other forming heterostructures, placing the TMDs in optical cavities, or substituting parts of modern devices with TMDs. The possibilities are unlimited!