The images show (CW, from top left) a polarized optical micrograph of a nematic LC containing MoS2, a photograph showing the presence of exfoliated MoS2 in dichlorobenzene (DCB) containing the mesogen RM105, but absence in DCB without the mesogen; time-redolved UV-VIS absorption spectra showing the characteristic absorption peaks of semiconducting single/few-layer MoS2, and a schematic showing the exfoliation and dispersion of MoS2 by RM105.
Exfoliation and dispersion of 2D nanomaterials in liquid crystals
A liquid crystal mesogen (RM105) was used to separate MoS2 into individual and few-layer sheets and stably disperse them in solution and in the nematic phase of the mesogen.
The ability of different mesogens to exfoliate and stabilize MoS2 was explored using a combination of experiment and molecular dynamics simulations.
Manipulation of nanomaterials in liquid crystals provides new opportunities for fundamental studies of anisotropic properties of the nanomaterials and the development of functional composite materials.
Nanocomposites of 2D-MoS2 exfoliated in thermotropic liquid crystals. Gabinet, Composto, Patel, Kagan, Osuji et al., In Revision (2021)