Room-Temperature Production of Nanocrystalline Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS₂) at the Liquid−Liquid Interface

Abstract

Scalable synthesis of 2D materials is a prerequisite for their commercial exploitation. Here, a novel method of producing nanocrystalline molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) at the liquid-liquid interface is demonstrated by decomposing a molecular precursor (tetrakis(<i>N,N-</i>diethyldithiocarbamato) molybdenum(IV)) in an organic solvent. The decomposition occurs over a few hours at room temperature without stirring or the addition of any surfactants, producing MoS₂ which can be isolated onto substrates of choice. The formation of MoS₂ at the liquid-liquid interface can be accelerated by the inclusion of hydroxide ions in the aqueous phase, which we propose to act as a catalyst. The precursor concentration was varied to minimize MoS₂ thickness, and the organic solvent was chosen to optimize the speed and quality of formation. The kinetics of the MoS₂ formation has been investigated, and a reaction mechanism has been proposed. The synthesis method is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported room-temperature synthesis of transition-metal dichalcogenides, offering a potential solution to scalable 2D material production.