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Long-term stability of mechanically exfoliated MoS2 flakes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2017

Prachi Budania*
Affiliation:
School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Paul Baine
Affiliation:
School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
John Montgomery
Affiliation:
School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Conor McGeough
Affiliation:
School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin D09 NR58, Ireland
Tony Cafolla
Affiliation:
School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin D09 NR58, Ireland
Mircea Modreanu
Affiliation:
Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Cork T12 R5CP, Ireland
David McNeill
Affiliation:
School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Neil Mitchell
Affiliation:
School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Greg Hughes
Affiliation:
School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin D09 NR58, Ireland
Paul Hurley
Affiliation:
Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Cork T12 R5CP, Ireland
*
Address all correspondence to Prachi Budania at pbudania01@qub.ac.uk
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Abstract

The long-term stability of mechanically exfoliated MoS2 flakes was compared for storage in the air and storage under vacuum. Significant changes in MoS2 flakes were observed for samples stored in the air, whereas similar flakes on samples stored in vacuum underwent no change. Small speckles were observed to appear on the surface of flakes stored in the air, followed by thinning and eventual decomposition of MoS2 flakes. The speckles are suspected to be formed by oxidation of MoS2 in the presence of atmospheric oxygen and water molecules, resulting in the formation of hydrated MoO3.

Type
Research Letters
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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