Ionic liquid assisted hydrothermal synthesis of uniform MoS2 microspheres using (NH4)2MoS4 as precursors

• Published in: Materials research innovations Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 365 - 369
• Main Authors: Zhao, X.-X., Dong, B., Chai, Y.-M., Li, Y.-P., Liu, Y.-Q., Liu, C.-G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Diffraction patterns; Growth mechanism; Hydrothermal; Ionic liquid; Ionic liquids; Microspheres; Molybdenum disulfide; Morphology; MoS; Precursors; Synthesis; X-rays
• ISSN: 1432-8917; 1433-075X
• DOI: 10.1179/1433075X13Y.0000000159

MoS 2 microspheres with uniform morphology have been successfully fabricated using ammonium thiomolybdate [(NH 4 ) 2 MoS 4 ] as precursors by an ionic liquid assisted hydrothermal synthesis. X-ray diffraction pattern result showed that the as prepared MoS 2 assisted by an ionic liquid ([BMIM][BF 4 ]) had the broader and weaker peak of (002) comparing to the absence of ionic liquid. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that MoS 2 microspheres had uniform spherical morphology with petal-like structure. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the microspheres are solid and have rough surfaces. It was found that ionic liquid [BMIM][BF 4 ] could effectively influence the spherical morphology of MoS 2 , whereas the microsphere structures were not obtained in the absence of [BMIM][BF 4 ] under identical conditions. The precursors (NH 4 ) 2 MoS 4 may also play a crucial role on the size and morphology of the MoS 2 microspheres. After the results were systematically analysed, the possible growth mechanism of MoS 2 microspheres was discussed in detail.