Surfactant-free exfoliation of multilayer molybdenum disulfide nanosheets in water.

Abstract

In this study, we report a potentially scalable method for producing multilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets. The addition of a small amount of ammonia solution can improve the exfoliation of MoS2 nanosheets in water. The surface charge induced by spontaneous adsorption of hydroxyl ions on MoS2 surfaces favors the exfoliation process. The edge charge generated by the ionization of edge-attached groups facilities the dispersion of exfoliated nanosheets in water. It is also found that smaller MoS2 nanosheets show an improved photocatalytic performance, which stems from enhanced edge effects and a reduced flake thickness. This work opens a new vista on preparation and application of multilayer MoS2 nanosheets.