Scalable Fabrication of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanostructures and their Assembly

Adv Mater. 2020 Oct;32(43):e2003439. doi: 10.1002/adma.202003439. Epub 2020 Sep 21.

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) is a multifunctional material that can be used for various applications. In the single-crystalline form, MoS2 shows superior electronic properties. It is also an exceptionally useful nanomaterial in its polycrystalline form with applications in catalysis, energy storage, water treatment, and gas sensing. Here, the scalable fabrication of longitudinal MoS2 nanostructures, i.e., nanoribbons, and their oxide hybrids with tunable dimensions in a rational and well-reproducible fashion, is reported. The nanoribbons, obtained at different reaction stages, that is, MoO3 , MoS2 /MoO2 hybrid, and MoS2 , are fully characterized. The growth method presented herein has a high yield and is particularly robust. The MoS2 nanoribbons can readily be removed from its substrate and dispersed in solution. It is shown that functionalized MoS2 nanoribbons can be manipulated in solution and assembled in controlled patterns and directly on microelectrodes with UV-click-chemistry. Owing to the high chemical purity and polycrystalline nature, the MoS2 nanostructures demonstrate rapid optoelectronic response to wavelengths from 450 to 750 nm, and successfully remove mercury contaminants from water. The scalable fabrication and manipulation followed by light-directed assembly of MoS2 nanoribbons, and their unique properties, will be inspiring for device fabrication and applications of the transition metal dichalcogenides.

Keywords: MoS 2; assembly; click chemistry; manipulation; transition metal dichalcogenides.