## 4 Conclusions  
In this work, we have demonstrated that it is possible to use the formation of well-defined oxide motifs to pattern metallic TMDCs flakes of different composition and thicknesses. After exceeding a voltage threshold, the size of the oxide dot has the usual dependence with humidity, tip-to-sample distance, \(t_{\text{ox}}\), \(V_{\text{ox}}\) and scan speed observed in other materials like silicon. Interestingly, the morphology of the oxide feature seems to change with the nature of the chalcogenide, and the phase of the material, giving rise to nipple shapes, concentric rings, or even dendritic structures. The formation of a unique outer ring surrounding a central oxide spot observed in TaSe\({}_{2}\) and NbSe\({}_{2}\) is an anomaly that has been also observed for semiconducting Si substrates and insulating polymers [30]. For LON on TaS\({}_{2}\) and NbS\({}_{2}\) surfaces, various concentric symmetrical rings were formed instead of a unique ring. The number of rings grew with the lateral size of the oxide motif and this rippled formation is only observed for the sulphide materials. It has been shown that the LON experiments performed onto the needle-like 3R-NbS\({}_{2}\) crystals behave completely different from the rest. In this case, a dendritic growth has been found that could be explained if the oxidation process takes place across the crystal planes instead of on top of a single plane. Unfortunately, we still do not have a complete explanation about the mechanisms responsible of these different morphologies and they are currently under study. The pattering of large areas (\(\mu\)m\({}^{2}\)) with nanometric motifs over exfoliated TMDCs crystals gives rise to the combination of materials with completely different properties (e.g., superconducting/isolating) that can be seen as multifunctional horizontal heterostructures. In addition, this formation of the oxide patterns could permit the study of vortex formation and dynamics in 2D superconducting materials. The possibility of creating these pinning centers by _static-tip_ LON with high reproducibility and accuracy in flakes with different thicknesses opens the door for the study of the thickness-dependent vortex dynamics on superconducting TMDC. The following are available online at [[http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/6/9/250/s1](http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/6/9/250/s1)]([http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/6/9/250/s1](http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/6/9/250/s1)). Figure S1.1: 2H-TaS\({}_{2}\) XRPD pattern (green) and unit cell refinement (blue). Peaks positions are marked with vertical red lines and the background with a black line. Figure S1.2: 2H-TaSe\({}_{2}\) XRPD pattern (green) and unit cell refinement (blue). Figure 8: Oxidation in 3R-NbS\({}_{2}\). (**a**) Topography image of various needle-like stacks of 3R-NbS\({}_{2}\) onto a Si substrate; (**b**) Topography image of a needle of 3R-NbS\({}_{2}\) previous to its oxidization; and (**c**) same needle oxidized in distinct places employing different oxidation parameters. Two areas are highlighted in dashed squares, (1) oxide dendritic growths oxidized at \(-\)30 V and 50 ms and (2) oxide formation produced at \(-\)35 V and 100 ms; (**d**) Topography image of a dendrite oxide formation onto a needle of 3R-NbS\({}_{2}\) produced at \(-\)30 V and 100 ms; (**e**) phase image corresponding to (**d**); (**f**) Topography image of the etched oxide shown in figure (**a**). cell refinement (blue). Peaks positions are marked with vertical red lines and the background with a black line. Figure S1.3: 2H-NbS\({}_{2}\) XRPD pattern (green) and unit cell refinement (blue). Inset: Photography of a 2H-NbS\({}_{2}\) crystal. Peaks positions are marked with vertical red lines and the background with a black line. Figure S1.4: TEM characterization of 3R-NbS\({}_{2}\) needles. (a) TEM image of the inspected needle; (b) detail with atomic scale area; and (c) TEM FFT diffraction pattern of (b). Figure S1.5: 2H-NbSe\({}_{2}\) XRPD pattern (green) and unit cell refinement (blue).