Scalable Production of Two-Dimensional Metallic Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheet Powders Using NaCl Templates toward Electrocatalytic Applications

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (MTMDCs) have attracted tremendous interest due to their intriguing physical properties and broad application potential. However, batch production of high-quality 2D MTMDCs based on existing synthesis on 2D surfaces remains a huge challenge. Herein, a universal synthetic route for the scalable synthesis of high-quality 2D MTMDC (e.g., TaS2, V5S8, and NbS2) nanosheets using microcrystalline NaCl crystals as templates via a facile chemical vapor deposition method is reported. Obviously, this synthetic route is perfectly compatible with a facile water dissolution–filtration process for obtaining high-purity MTMDC nanosheet powders. Representatively, a thickness-uniform 1T-TaS2 nanosheet product can be achieved that shows unexceptionable dispersibility in ethanol, which allows its assembly onto arbitrary substrates/electrodes for high-performance energy-related applications, herein serving as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. This work sheds light on the batch production, green transfer, and energy-related application of 2D MTMDC materials