Co-precipitation synthesis and characterization of faceted MoS2 nanorods with controllable morphologies

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanopowder has been prepared using a co-precipitation method. This paper describes the thermal effect on the morphology enhancement of MoS2 sphere-like structures into nanorods with a winding structure. For the reduction in precursors, the as-obtained MoS2 nanopowder was calcinated at 250, 400, 600, and 800 degrees C for 1 h in an N-2 environment. The calcined samples were characterized using a particle size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with X-ray analysis (EDAX) and transmission electron microscopy, HRTEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show the MoS2 sphere-like structure with diameter in the range of 50-100 nm and rod-like winding structure with diameter in the range of 20-150 nm, and a few tens of micrometers in length with a high degree of size homogeneity. The FT-IR spectra show the obtained bands at 480 and 900 cm(-1) are corresponding to the Mo-S bond and the S-S bond. The TG-DTA curves confirm the thermal stability of the prepared samples. It is observed that the band gap energy for the MoS2 nanorods is lower than for the nanospherical structure MoS2, which leads to achieve high electron and hole recombination rate.