<br/>Layered bulk materials have attracted much attention for various technological applications including tribology and catalysis.  One of the most recent applications is in their study in the two-dimensional limit i.e. atomically thick materials such as graphene. Inorganic graphene analogues such as few layer molybdenum disulphide, black phosphorus and main group chalcogenides have also been the subjects of much intense research as two-dimensional semiconductors that would be complementary to graphene in a future electronics industry [2]. We have devised top-down routes to 2D black phosphorus and tin(II) sulphide, both of which have layer dependent band gaps.  However, these top-down processes suffer from a major drawback: often commercially available layered bulk crystals are used as feedstock and this inherently limits the palette of two-dimensional materials available for study without resorting to expensive processing via CVD.  <br/><br/>As a solution to this, we have devised new routes based on  thermolysis of customised metal-organic precursors that can act as a source of both metal and sulfur and can produce layered metal dichalcogenides  in bulk at relatively low temperatures and in relatively high purity. Our approach also offers excellent control over doping or alloying of materials and this then widens range of layered materials available for exfoliation. I will present the synthesis of layered MoS2, MoO3 and PbSnS alloys, the latter studied in the 2D limit as an example of this new processing route to bespoke 2D materials.

Soft processing toward layered and 2D materials: Expanding the palette

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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