Mechanism for Liquid Phase Exfoliation of MoS₂

A highly efficient, reproducible, and scalable approach for exfoliation of MoS₂ is critical for utilizing these emerging materials from coatings and composites to printable devices. Additive-free techniques, such as solvent-assisted exfoliation via sonication, are considered to be the most viable approach, where N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is the most effective solvent. However, understanding the mechanism of exfoliation and the key role NMP plays during the process have been elusive and challenges effective improvements in product yield and quality. Here, we report systematic experiments to understand the mechanism of solvent-assisted exfoliation by elucidating the sonolysis chemistries associated with NMP. It is confirmed that in the presence of O₂(g) dissolved moisture in NMP plays a critical role during sonication. The higher the moisture content, the more efficient the exfoliation process is. Conversely, when exfoliations are carried out with dried solvents with an inert atmosphere, reaction yields decrease. This is due to redox-active species formed in situ through an autoxidation pathway that converts NMP to N-methyl succinimide by hydroperoxide intermediates. These highly reactive species appear to aid exfoliation by oxidation at reactive edge sites; the charging creates Coulombic repulsion between neighboring sheets that disrupts interlayer basal plane bonding and enables electrostatic stabilization of particles in high-dipole solvents. From these insights, exfoliation in previously reported inactive solvents (e.g., acetonitrile), as well as in the absence of probe sonication, is demonstrated. These findings illustrate that exfoliation of MoS₂, and possibly TMD’s in general, can be mediated through understanding the chemistry occurring at the surface–solvent interface.