Single- and few-layer crystals ofexfoliated MoTe2havebeen characterized spectroscopically by photoluminescence, Raman scattering,and optical absorption measurements. We find that MoTe2in the monolayer limit displays strong photoluminescence. On thebasis of complementary optical absorption results, we conclude thatmonolayer MoTe2is a direct-gap semiconductor with an opticalband gap of 1.10 eV. This new monolayer material extends the spectralrange of atomically thin direct-gap materials from the visible tothe near-infrared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]