Title: Few-layer flakes of Molybdenum Disulphide produced by anodic arc discharge in pulsed mode

Abstract

Here, the synthesis of Molybdenum Disulphide (MoS₂) flakes by means of anodic atmospheric arc discharge is reported for the first time. The vertical electrode configuration consisted of a compound anode (hollow graphite anode filled with MoS₂ powder) and a solid graphite cathode placed just above of the compound anode. Arc processes were operated in pulsed mode to preferentially evaporate the powder component from the anode and to minimize Carbon ablation. Pulsed anodic arc discharges were conducted at 2 Hz and 10% duty cycle in 300 Torr of Helium with a peak current of 250–300 A and a peak voltage of 35 V. A probe made of Tungsten wire was placed in the vicinity of the arc column to collect the evaporated material. The measured thickness profile was correlated to the particle flux distribution and it was fitted by a simple model of plasma expansion. During pulse phase, electron density was estimated around 5 x 10²² m^–3 or higher, and ion current density was of the order of 10 A mm^–2. Morphology, structure and composition of the samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The studymore » shows that pulsed arc discharge of the compound anode leads to moderate C deposition combined with MoS₂ deposition in the form of fragmented nanocrystals and few atomic monolayers of MoS₂. We conclude such synthesis technique is promising to produce new 2D nanomaterials with tailored structure and functionality thanks to the flexibility of pulsed power.« less

Authors:

Corbella, Carles  ^[1];

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Portal, Sabine ^[1]; Saadi, M. A. S. R. ^[1]; Solares, Santiago D. ^[1]; Kundrapu, Madhusudhan N. ^[2]; Keidar, Michael ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. George Washington Univ., Washington, DC (United States)
2. Tech-X Corporation, Boulder, CO (United States)

Publication Date:

Tue Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:

Tech-X Corporation, Boulder, CO (United States); George Washington Univ., Washington, DC (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); National Science Foundation (NSF)

OSTI Identifier:

1595728

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0015767; 1747760

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Plasma Research Express

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 1; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 2516-1067

Publisher:

IOP Publishing

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; anodic arc discharge; few-layer flakes; molybdenum disulphide; pulsed power