A method of growing patterns of an atomic layer of metal dichalcogenides, the method including providing a substrate, providing aligned patterns of carbon nanostructures on the substrate, providing a first metal portion in contact with a first portion of the patterns of carbon nanostructures and a second metal portion in contact with a second portion of the patterns of carbon nanostructures, depositing a salt layer on the substrate and the patterns of carbon nanostructures, resistively heating the patterns of carbon nanostructures to remove the patterns of carbon nanostructures and salt deposited thereon from the substrate, wherein removing the patterns of carbon nanostructures and salt deposited thereon from the substrate provides salt patterns on the substrate, and growing an atomic layer of metal dichalcogenides on the salt patterns, wherein the atomic layer of metal dichalcogenides is provided in aligned patterns each having a pre-defined width. Also disclosed are patterns of an atomic layer of metal dichalcogenides prepared according to the method of the disclosure.