• Morris, Michael
• Krajewska, Aleksandra M.
• Esmeraldo Paiva, Aislan
• Mcdonald, Aidan

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The applications of exfoliated MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> are limited by its inert surface and poor interface. We have activated the surface of exfoliated 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> by reacting it with NaBH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>, forming an n‐doped material as demonstrated by a negative zeta‐potential value <jats:italic>ζ</jats:italic>=−25 mV and a 20 nm (0.05 eV) red‐shift in its photoluminescence spectrum. The novel material's spectral properties were consistent with pristine 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (as determined by HR‐TEM, XPS, pXRD, DRIFT, TGA, and Raman spectroscopy). Importantly, it was readily dispersed in H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O unlike 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>. Its dispersibility properties were explored for a variety of solvents and could be directly correlated with the relative permittivity of the respective solvents. The charged 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> reacted readily with an organo‐iodide to deliver functionalized 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>. Our approach delivers aqueous dispersions of semiconducting 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, without additives or chemical functionalities, and allows for controlled and facile functionalization of 2H‐MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> opening multiple new avenues of semi‐conducting MoS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> application.</jats:p>

Topics

• dispersion
• surface
• photoluminescence
• x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• dielectric constant
• transmission electron microscopy
• thermogravimetry
• forming
• functionalization
• Raman spectroscopy