Synthesis, Characterisation, and Functionalisation of Charged Two‐Dimensional MoS 2

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2023-10, Vol.29 (57)
• Main Authors: Krajewska, Aleksandra M., Paiva, Aislan Esmeraldo, Morris, Michael, McDonald, Aidan R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202302039

The applications of exfoliated MoS 2 are limited by its inert surface and poor interface. We have activated the surface of exfoliated 2H‐MoS 2 by reacting it with NaBH 4 , forming an n‐doped material as demonstrated by a negative zeta‐potential value ζ =−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 2 (as determined by HR‐TEM, XPS, pXRD, DRIFT, TGA, and Raman spectroscopy). Importantly, it was readily dispersed in H 2 O unlike 2H‐MoS 2 . 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 2 reacted readily with an organo‐iodide to deliver functionalized 2H‐MoS 2 . Our approach delivers aqueous dispersions of semiconducting 2H‐MoS 2 , without additives or chemical functionalities, and allows for controlled and facile functionalization of 2H‐MoS 2 opening multiple new avenues of semi‐conducting MoS 2 application.