title: Colloidal synthesis of single-layer MSe2 (M = Mo, W) nanosheets via anisotropic solution-phase growth approach.
abstract: The generation of single-layer 2-dimensional (2D) nanosheets has been challenging, especially in solution-phase, since it requires highly anisotropic growth processes that exclusively promote planar directionality during nanocrystal formation. In this study, we discovered that such selective growth pathways can be achieved by modulating the binding affinities of coordinating capping ligands to the edge facets of 2D layered transition-metal chalcogenides (TMCs). Upon changing the functional groups of the capping ligands from carboxylic acid to alcohol and amine with accordingly modulated binding affinities to the edges, the number of layers of nanosheets is controlled. Single-layer MSe2 (M = Mo, W) TMC nanosheets are obtained with the use of oleic acid, while multilayer nanosheets are formed with relatively strong binding ligands such as oleyl alcohol and oleylamine. With the choice of appropriate capping ligands in the 2D anisotropic growth regime, our solution-based synthetic method can serve a new guideline for obtaining single-layer TMC nanosheets.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Wonil
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Sujeong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Dongwon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Sohee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Physics and Earth Science, Jacobs University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Physics and Earth Science, Jacobs University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuc
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Physics and Earth Science, Jacobs University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheon