In 2D nanomaterials like Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMD) exfoliated using liquid exfoliation methods, the solvent will play an important role in determining the final thickness and quality of layers we get out of this process. For instance, Gas sensors based on 2D materials like Molybdenum ditelluride can be prepared by exfoliating single or few layers of MoTe2 from the bulk crystal using liquid exfoliation by probe sonication, this process needs the 2D material powder to be dispersed in specific solvents before being sonicated. In this regard the chosen solvent should have low surface tension and low boiling point, the boiling point of the solvent will play a vital role for the usage of the yielded exfoliated nanosheets in Gas Sensing applications. For that, what are the preferred solvents when exfoliation MoTe2 powders using Liquid exfoliation for the application of Gas Sensors.
Pratik M. Pataniya thank you for your suggestion, i believe both solvents have high boiling points which is not preferred for gas sensor applications! have you tried you that before?
Hi Jaafar A Mehrez
DMF (36.5mN /m) and NMP (40.79mN/m) have been widely used because they almost match the surface tension of the bulk material to exfoliate (for example, MoS2 (38.3 mN /m). They also act as a surfactant, preventing reaggregation. You can exfoliate with those solvents and then perform a solvent transfer (to a low boiling point solvent) ... In the literature there are alternatives explored, mixtures of ethanol: water, IPA: water in different proportions. I don't know what the surface tension of MoTe2 is ... so i leave you a table with surface tensions for different solvents you may want to test.
Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Two-Dimensional Materials by Directly Probing and Matching Surface Tension Components
10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01842
Cheers...
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Materials Science