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At least 73 records · Page 4

Tailoring Piezoelectricity of 3D Printing PVDF-MoS 2 Nanocomposite via In Situ Induced Shear Stress

3D printing of unique structures with tunable properties offers significant advantages in the fabrication of complex and customized electronic devices. Here, this study introduces a process-microstructure–property-guided manufacturing route to fabricate PVDF-2D MoS 2 piezoelectric nanocomposites with tunable piezoelectric properties without having a postprocess. We control PVDF’s microstructure through direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing while tuning PVDF-MoS 2 interfacial strain by controlling rheology and 3D printing parameters, such as nozzle size and printing speed. Our approach demonstrates tunable piezoelectricity in PVDF-MoS 2 , achieving a 15-fold increase in the piezoelectric coefficient (d 33 ) at a printing-induced shear stress of 6685 Pa. This enhancement arises from the electrostatic interactions between PVDF and MoS 2 and the filler distribution and alignment caused by the in situ shear stress in 3D printing, as confirmed by XPS and Raman mapping analyses. Our findings advance the understanding of piezoelectric mechanisms in PVDF-based nanocomposites, laying the foundation for 3D printing of piezoelectric sensors in wearable device applications with enhanced performance and customization capabilities.

2D MoS2↗

Thermal-Strain-Enabled Enhanced Emission from UV Laser-Induced Defect Levels near the Surface of Multilayer MoS 2

Monolayer two-dimensional (2D) materials have been intensively studied while research on multilayers is still in its infancy. Here, we induce defects inside bulk MoS 2 through thermal annealing and near the surface of multilayer MoS 2 using 375 nm laser irradiation, and investigate their photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). Enhanced emission is limited within a certain MoS 2 thickness. The observed enhanced emission is evidenced by a threshold behavior in super-linear PL intensity increase, strong polarization effects, and increased lifetime of defect peak. The laser power threshold for enhanced emission is much smaller in defects near the surface than that inside the bulk of multilayer MoS 2 . The mechanical strain from a wrinkle of the sample further lowers the laser power threshold for enhanced emission. By exciting with a 639 nm laser that is close to the fundamental gap between the conduction band minimum and the valence band maximum, the lifetime of defect enhanced emission increased by 5 times. Furthermore, one of the competing indirect bandgap emissions disappears, and the defect emission peak dominates the PL spectrum in the wrinkle area with a strain. Furthermore, the discovered principle can be applied to future studies on the integration of enhanced emission and single photon emission involving selectively depopulating the conduction band of the host crystal to defect levels for quantum emitters.

2D materials↗

Chirality-Dependent Second Harmonic Generation of MoS 2 Nanoscroll with Enhanced Efficiency

Materials with high second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency and reduced dimensions are favorable for integrated photonics and nonlinear optical applications. Here, we fabricate MoS 2 nanoscrolls with different chiralities and study their SHG performances. As a 1D material, MoS 2 nanoscroll shows reduced symmetry and strong chirality dependency in the polarization-resolved SHG characterizations. This SHG performance can be well explained by the superposition theory of second harmonic field of the nanoscroll walls. MoS 2 nanoscrolls with certain chiralities and diameters in our experiment can have SHG intensity up to 95 times stronger than that of monolayer MoS 2 , and the full potential can still be further exploited. The same chirality-dependent SHG can be expected for nanoscrolls or nanotubes composed of other noncentrosymmetric 2D materials, such as WS 2 , WSe 2 , and hBN. Here, the characterization and analysis results presented here can also be exploited as a nondestructive technique to determine the chiralities of these nanoscrolls and nanotubes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Formation of Coherent 1H–1T Heterostructures in Single-Layer MoS 2 on Au(111)

Heterojunctions of semiconductors and metals are the fundamental building blocks of modern electronics. Coherent heterostructures between dissimilar materials can be achieved by composition, doping, or heteroepitaxy of chemically different elements. Here, we report the formation of coherent single-layer 1H–1T MoS 2 heterostructures by mechanical exfoliation on Au(111), which are chemically homogeneous with matched lattices but show electronically distinct semiconducting (1H phase) and metallic (1T phase) character, with the formation of these heterojunctions attributed to a combination of lattice strain and charge transfer. The exfoliation approach employed is free of tape residues usually found in many exfoliation methods and yields single-layer MoS 2 with millimeter (mm) size on the Au surface. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) have collectively been employed to elucidate the structural and electronic properties of MoS 2 monolayers on Au substrates. Bubbles in the MoS 2 formed by the trapping of ambient adsorbates beneath the single layer during deposition, have also been observed and characterized. Lastly, our work here provides a basis to produce two-dimensional heterostructures which represent potential candidates for future electronic devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Local Structure of Sulfur Vacancies on the Basal Plane of Monolayer MoS 2

We report the nature of the S-vacancy is central to controlling the electronic properties of monolayer MoS 2 . Understanding the geometric and electronic structures of the S-vacancy on the basal plane of monolayer MoS 2 remains elusive. Here, operando S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows the formation of clustered S-vacancies on the basal plane of monolayer MoS 2 under reaction conditions (H 2 atmosphere, 100–600 °C). First-principles calculations predict spectral fingerprints consistent with the experimental results. The Mo K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure shows the local structure as coordinatively unsaturated Mo with 4.1 ± 0.4 S atoms as nearest neighbors (above 400 °C in an H 2 atmosphere). Conversely, the 6-fold Mo–Mo coordination in the crystal remains unchanged. Electrochemistry confirms similar active sites for hydrogen evolution. The identity of the S-vacancy defect on the basal plane of monolayer MoS 2 is herein elucidated for applications in optoelectronics and catalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Long-Range Charge Transport Facilitated by Electron Delocalization in MoS 2 and Carbon Nanotube Heterostructures

Controlling charge transport at the interfaces of nanostructures is crucial for their successful use in optoelectronic and solar energy applications. Mixed-dimensional heterostructures based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have demonstrated exceptionally long-lived charge-separated states. However, the factors that control the charge transport at these interfaces remain unclear. In this study, we directly image charge transport at the interfaces of single- and multilayered MoS 2 and (6,5) SWCNT heterostructures using transient absorption microscopy. We find that charge recombination becomes slower as the layer thickness of MoS 2 increases. This behavior can be explained by electron delocalization in multilayers and reduced orbital overlap with the SWCNTs, as suggested by nonadiabatic (NA) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Dipolar repulsion of interfacial excitons results in rapid density-dependent transport within the first 100 ps. Stronger repulsion and longer-range charge transport are observed in heterostructures with thicker MoS 2 layers, driven by electron delocalization and larger interfacial dipole moments. These findings are consistent with the results from NAMD simulations. Our results suggest that heterostructures with multilayer MoS 2 can facilitate long-lived charge separation and transport, which is promising for applications in photovoltaics and photocatalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Origin of Large Effective Phonon Magnetic Moments in Monolayer MoS 2

Recent helicity-resolved magneto-Raman spectroscopy measurement demonstrates large effective phonon magnetic moments of ~2.5 μ B in monolayer MoS 2 , highlighting resonant excitation of bright excitons as a feasible route to activate Γ-point circularly polarized phonons in transition metal dichalcogenides. However, a microscopic picture of this intriguing phenomenon remains lacking. In this work, we show that an orbital transition between the split conduction bands (Δ 0 = 4 meV) of MoS 2 couples to the doubly degenerate E" phonon mode (Ω 0 = 33 meV), forming two hybridized states. Our phononic and electronic Raman scattering measurements capture these two states: (i) one with predominantly phonon contribution in the helicity-switched channels and (ii) one with primarily orbital contribution in the helicity-conserved channels. An orbital-phonon coupling model successfully reproduces the large effective magnetic moments of the circularly polarized phonons and explains their thermodynamic properties. Strikingly, the Raman mode from the orbital transition is superimposed on a strong quasi-elastic scattering background, indicating the presence of spin fluctuations. As a result, the electrons excited to the conduction bands through the exciton exhibit paramagnetic behavior although MoS 2 is generally considered as a nonmagnetic material. By depositing nanometer-thickness nickel thin films on monolayer MoS 2 , we tune the electronic structure so that the A exciton perfectly overlaps with the 633 nm laser. The optimization of resonance excitation leads to pronounced tunability of the orbital-phonon hybridized states. Our results generalize the orbital-phonon coupling model of effective phonon magnetic moments to material systems beyond the paramagnets and magnets.

2D transition metal dichalcogenide↗

Construction of MoS 2 /MoO 3 Heterostructure with Ultrafast-Charged and Superior Low-Temperature Sodium Storage Properties

The electrochemical reaction kinetics of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) become sluggish at low temperatures, resulting in significant reductions in energy density and power density. Rational design of anode materials with excellent low-temperature performance is of great significance for promoting the application of SIBs under extreme conditions. Here, in this study, the spontaneous hydrolysis and oxidation reactions of MoS 2 in aqueous solution are used to successfully construct the MoS 2 /MoO 3 heterostructure. The formation of built-in electric fields at the MoS 2 /MoO 3 heterointerfaces improves the electrochemical reaction kinetics, thereby enhancing the rate performance. In addition, the dual-phase material can effectively buffer the volume strain during the cycle process, thereby improving the cycle stability. Thus, the MoS 2 /MoO 3 displays ultrafast charging properties at room temperature (up to 244.6 mAh g –1 at 40 A g –1 , discharge/charge in 22 s). Even at −40 °C, it also exhibits a high capacity of 303.7 mAh g –1 and superior cycling performance (capacity retention rate up to 92.9% after 900 cycles at 2 A g –1 ).

MoS2↗

Tailoring MoS 2 for Small-Molecule Electroreduction: The Role of Metal Doping and Heterostructures

The electrification of chemical transformations central to sustainable fuel production and waste valorization, such as overall water splitting (OWS), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and electrochemical reduction of CO 2 (CO 2 R), presents a powerful opportunity to advance carbon-neutral energy technologies. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), particularly MoS 2 , have emerged as promising electrocatalyst candidates, owing to their abundance, tunable active sites, and defect-rich structures. This review highlights recent progress in leveraging metal doping and heterostructure engineering of MoS 2 to enhance the electrocatalytic activity and selectivity. By compiling insights from experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) predictions, we examine how defect creation, electronic structure modification, and interface design contribute to improved charge transport and catalytic efficiency. Particular emphasis is placed on rational design principles, synthetic strategies, and operando characterization methods that provide a pathway to understanding and optimizing MoS 2 -based materials. We also discuss the challenges of stability, mechanistic ambiguity, and scaling while outlining opportunities to bridge theory and experiment. Collectively, this review underscores how defect and heterostructure engineering of MoS 2 can accelerate the development of efficient, sustainable electrocatalysts for both fuel generation and waste-to-value generation.

CO2 reduction↗

Molecular Models of Atomically Dispersed Uranium at MoS 2 Surfaces Reveal Cooperative Mechanism of Water Reduction

Single atoms of uranium supported on molybdenum sulfide surfaces (U@MoS 2 ) have been recently demonstrated to facilitate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) through electrocatalysis. Theoretical calculations have predicted uranium hydroxide moieties bound to edge-sulfur atoms of MoS 2 as a proposed transition state involved in the HER process. However, the isolation of relevant intermediates involved in this process remains a challenge, rendering mechanistic hypotheses unverified. The present work describes the isolation and characterization of a uranium-hydroxide intermediate on molybdenum sulfide surfaces using [(Cp* 3 Mo 3 S 4 )UCp*], a molecular model of a reduced uranium center supported at MoS 2 . Mechanistic investigations highlight the metalloligand cooperativity with uranium involved in the water activation pathway. The corresponding uranium-oxo analogue, [(Cp* 3 Mo 3 S 4 )Cp*U(═O)], was also accessed from the hydroxide cluster via hydrogen atom transfer and from [(Cp* 3 Mo 3 S 4 )UCp*] through an alternative direct oxygen atom transfer. These results provide an atomistic perspective on the reactivity of low-valent uranium at molybdenum sulfide surfaces toward water, modeling key intermediates associated with the HER of U@MoS 2 catalysts.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Direct intercalation of MoS 2 and WS 2 thin films by vacuum filtration

In the development of next-generation electronics and energy devices, intercalation compounds of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are gaining attention for their unique properties that result from synergistic interactions between guest species and host materials. Nowadays, intercalation compounds of MoS 2 and WS 2 are commonly prepared by a two-step process: (1) exfoliation to form single-layer and/or few-layer nanosheets and (2) restacking the nanosheets with the guest species by vigorously mixing the exfoliated suspension with the solution of guest species. While a wide variety of intercalation compounds have been synthesized using this approach, the intercalation process is often timeconsuming, and the product slurry limits material quality and impedes characterization and applications. Herein, we report a versatile method for preparing intercalated TMDCs in a thin-film morphology. Using this approach, we successfully prepared a range of existing intercalation compounds of MoS 2 and WS 2 (e.g., ferrocene and amine intercalated MoS 2 and WS 2 ). Additionally, by leveraging the versatility of this intercalation method, we report we intercalated phenazine and benzoquinone into MoS 2 and WS 2 for the first time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bandgap recovery of monolayer MoS 2 using defect engineering and chemical doping

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide materials have created avenues for exciting physics with unique electronic and photonic applications. Among these materials, molybdenum disulfide is the most known due to extensive research in understanding its electronic and optical properties. In this paper, we report on the successful growth and modification of monolayer MoS 2 (1L MoS 2 ) by controlling carrier concentration and manipulating bandgap in order to improve the efficiency of light emission. Atomic size MoS 2 vacancies were created using a Helium Ion Microscope, then the defect sites were doped with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluro7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ). The carrier concentration in intrinsic (as-grown) and engineered 1L MoS 2 was calculated using Mass Action model. The results are in a good agreement with Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as Kelvin probe force microscopy characterizations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Confinement effects on the solvation structure of solvated alkaline metal cations in a single-digit 1T-MoS 2 nanochannel: A first-principles study

Confinement plays an important role in determining ion transport in porous materials, which, in turn, may influence the performance of many energy storage and desalination devices. In this work, we combined density functional theory (DFT) with an implicit solvation model and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to investigate the effects of nanoconfinement on several solvated alkaline metal cations in a single-digit 1T-MoS 2 nanochannel. Our DFT calculations with a solvation model indicated that cations with stronger hydration energy introduce a higher number of co-intercalated water molecules into the channel, consistent with early experimental observation obtained for MXene (2D transition metal carbide) channels. The predicted optimal water numbers for the cations were then used for AIMD simulations that explicitly include the effects of the solvent. When compared with the cations in bulk solution, our simulations showed that the hydration structure and coordination number (CN) of the solvated cations confined in the MoS 2 channel can be significantly altered. Further, we found that larger cations with weaker hydration energy (K + , Rb + , and Cs + ) exhibited a distinctive CN decrease under confinement, while smaller cations (Li + and Na + ) retained a similar hydration shell as in the bulk solution. More specifically, the hydration shell of large cations (K + , Rb + , and Cs + ) in MoS 2 showed similar features of the coordination angle to the bulk, which suggests the partially broken hydration shell with no geometry change under confinement. Our simulations provided insights into the change of the hydration structure of alkaline metal cations under confinement, which may have important implications on their transport in the 1T-MoS 2 channel.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Toward alcohol synthesis from CO hydrogenation on Cu(111)-supported MoS 2 – predictions from DFT+KMC

In the quest for cheap and efficient catalysts for alcohol synthesis from syngas, a material of interest is single-layer MoS2 owing to its low cost, abundancy, and flexible structure. Because of the inertness of its basal plane, however, it is essential to find ways that make it catalytically active. Herein, by means of density functional theory based calculations of reaction pathways and activation energy barriers and accompanying kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, we show that while S vacancy row structures activate the MoS 2 basal plane, further enhancement of chemical activity and selectivity can be achieved by interfacing the MoS 2 layer with a metallic support. When defect-laden MoS2 is grown on Cu(111), there is not only an increase in the active region (surface area of active sites) but also charge transfer from Cu to MoS 2 , resulting in a shift of the Fermi level such that the frontier states (d orbitals of the exposed Mo atoms) appear close to it, making the MoS 2 /Cu(111) system ready for catalytic activity. Finally, our calculated thermodynamics of reaction pathways lead to the conclusion that the Cu(111) substrate promotes both methanol and ethanol as the products, while kinetic Monte Carlo simulations suggest a high selectivity toward the formation of ethanol.

2D materials↗

Charge transfer dynamics and interlayer exciton formation in MoS 2 /VOPc mixed dimensional heterojunction

Mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterojunctions involve interfacing materials with different dimensionalities, such as a 2D transition metal dichalcogenide and a 0D organic semiconductor. These heterojunctions have shown unique interfacial properties not found in either individual component. Here, we use femtosecond transient absorption to reveal photoinduced charge transfer and interlayer exciton formation in a mixed-dimensional type-II heterojunction between monolayer MoS 2 and vanadyl phthalocyanine (VOPc). Selective excitation of the MoS 2 exciton leads to hole transfer from the MoS 2 valence band to VOPc highest occupied molecular orbit in ~710 fs. On the contrary, selective photoexcitation of the VOPc layer leads to instantaneous electron transfer from its excited state to the conduction band of MoS 2 in less than 100 fs. Further, this light-initiated ultrafast separation of electrons and holes across the heterojunction interface leads to the formation of an interlayer exciton. These interlayer excitons formed across the interface lead to longer-lived charge-separated states of up to 2.5 ns, longer than in each individual layer of this heterojunction. Thus, the longer charge-separated state along with ultrafast charge transfer times provide promising results for photovoltaic and optoelectronic device applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Natural formation of linear defect structures in MoS 2

Near surface defects can significantly impact the quality of metallic interconnects and other interfaces necessary to create device structures incorporating two-dimensional materials. Furthermore, the impact of such defects can strongly depend on their organization. In this study, we present scanning tunneling microscopy images and tunneling spectroscopy of point and linear defects near the surface of natural MoS 2 . The point defects share similar structural and electronic characteristics and occur with comparable frequency as subsurface sulfur vacancies observed previously on natural MoS 2 . The linear defects observed here occur less frequently than the point defects but share the same depth profile and electronic structure. These data indicate that the linear defects are actually a one-dimensional organization of subsurface sulfur vacancies. Our density functional calculations agree with this assessment in that, for sufficient local defect concentrations, it is energetically more favorable for the defects to be organized in a linear fashion rather than as clusters or even isolated single point defects. Given these measurements were taken from naturally formed MoS 2 , this organization likely occurs during crystal formation. Considering the impact of one-dimensional organization on the local properties of layered materials, and the potential for them to be introduced purposefully during crystal formation, research into the formation mechanism and properties of these defects could enable new paths for defect engineering in MoS 2 -based systems.

2D materials↗

Surface dependence of electronic growth of Cu(111) on MoS 2

Scanning tunneling microscopy shows that copper deposited at room temperature onto a freshly exfoliated MoS 2 surface forms Cu(111) clusters with periodic preferred heights of 5, 8, and 11 atomic layers. These height intervals correlate with Fermi nesting regions along the necks of the bulk Cu Fermi surface, indicating a connection between physical and electronic structures. Density functional theory calculations of freestanding Cu(111) films support this as well, predicting a lower density of states at the Fermi level for these preferred heights. This is consistent with other noble metals deposited on MoS 2 that exhibit electronic growth, in which the metal films self-assemble as nanostructures minimizing quantum electronic energies. Here, we have discovered that it is critical for the metal deposition to begin on a clean MoS 2 surface. If copper is deposited onto an already Cu coated surface, even if the original film displays electronic growth, the resulting Cu film lacks quantization. Instead, the preferred heights of the Cu clusters simply increase linearly with the amount of Cu deposited upon the surface. We believe this is due to different bonding conditions during the initial stages of growth. Newly deposited copper would bond strongly to the already present copper clusters, rather than the weak bonding, which exists to the van der Waals terminated surface of MoS 2 . The stronger bonding with previously deposited clusters hinders additional Cu atoms from reaching their lowest quantum energy state. The interface characteristics of the van der Waals surface enable surface engineering of self-assembled structures to achieve different applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Tuning of the electronic and vibrational properties of epitaxial MoS 2 through He-ion beam modification

Abstract Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), like MoS 2 with high carrier mobilities and tunable electron dispersions, are unique active material candidates for next generation opto-electronic devices. Previous studies on ion irradiation show great potential applications when applied to two-dimensional (2D) materials, yet have been limited to micron size exfoliated flakes or smaller. To demonstrate the scalability of this method for industrial applications, we report the application of relatively low power (50 keV) 4 He + ion irradiation towards tuning the optoelectronic properties of an epitaxially grown continuous film of MoS 2 at the wafer scale, and demonstrate that precise manipulation of atomistic defects can be achieved in TMD films using ion implanters. The effect of 4 He + ion fluence on the PL and Raman signatures of the irradiated film provides new insights into the type and concentration of defects formed in the MoS 2 lattice, which are quantified through ion beam analysis. PL and Raman spectroscopy indicate that point defects are generated without causing disruption to the underlying lattice structure of the 2D films and hence, this technique can prove to be an effective way to achieve defect-mediated control over the opto-electronic properties of MoS 2 and other 2D materials.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗