Design of Core–Shell Quantum Dots–3D WS₂ Nanowall Hybrid Nanostructures with High-Performance Bifunctional Sensing Applications

Abstract

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have recently attracted a tremendous amount of attention owing to their superior optical and electrical properties as well as the interesting and various nanostructures that are created by different synthesis processes. However, the atomic thickness of TMDCs limits the light absorption and results in the weak performance of optoelectronic devices, such as photodetectors. Here, we demonstrate the approach to increase the surface area of TMDCs by a one-step synthesis process of TMDC nanowalls from WO_<i>x</i> into three-dimensional (3D) WS₂ nanowalls. By utilizing a rapid heating and rapid cooling process, the formation of 3D nanowalls with a height of approximately 150 nm standing perpendicularly on top of the substrate can be achieved. The combination of core-shell colloidal quantum dots (QDs) with three different emission wavelengths and 3D WS₂ nanowalls further improves the performance of WS₂-based photodetector devices, including a photocurrent enhancement of 320-470% and shorter response time. The significant results of the core-shell QD-WS₂ hybrid devices can be contributed by the high nonradiative energy transfer efficiency between core-shell QDs and the nanostructured material, which is caused by the spectral overlap between the emission of core-shell QDs and the absorption of WS₂. Besides, outstanding NO₂ gas-sensing performance of core-shell QDs/WS₂ devices can be achieved with an extremely low detection limit of 50 ppb and a fast response time of 26.8 s because of local p<i>-</i>n junctions generated by p<i>-</i>type 3D WS₂ nanowalls and n<i>-</i>type core-shell CdSe-ZnS QDs. Our work successfully reveals the energy transfer phenomenon in core-shell QD-WS₂ hybrid devices and shows great potential in commercial multifunctional sensing applications.