Functionalization of Two‐Dimensional MoS2: On the Reaction Between MoS2 and Organic Thiols. (1st April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Xin; Berner, Nina C.; Backes, Claudia; Duesberg, Georg S.; McDonald, Aidan R.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 128:Number 19(2016)
• Page Start: 5897
• Page End: 5902
• Publication Date: 2016-04-01
• Subjects: Abblättern -- Thiole -- Oberflächenfunktionalisierung -- Übergangsmetalldichalkogenide -- Zweidimensionale Materialien; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201510219
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Two‐dimensional layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted great interest owing to their unique properties and a wide array of potential applications. However, due to their inert nature, pristine TMDs are very challenging to functionalize. We demonstrate a general route to functionalize exfoliated 2H‐MoS2 with cysteine. Critically, MoS2 was found to be facilitating the oxidation of the thiol cysteine to the disulfide cystine during functionalization. The resulting cystine was physisorbed on MoS2 rather than coordinated as a thiol (cysteine) filling S‐vacancies in the 2H‐MoS2 surface, as originally conceived. These observations were found to be true for other organic thiols and indeed other TMDs. Our findings suggest that functionalization of two‐dimensional MoS2 using organic thiols may not yield covalently or datively tethered functionalities, rather, in this instance, they yield physisorbed disulfides that are easily removed.