Effect of Different Solvents on Morphology and Gas-Sensitive Properties of Grinding-Assisted Liquid-Phase-Exfoliated MoS(2) Nanosheets

Grinding-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation is a widely used method for the preparation of two-dimensional nanomaterials. In this study, N-methylpyrrolidone and acetonitrile, two common grinding solvents, were used during the liquid-phase exfoliation for the preparation of MoS(2) nanosheets. The morphology and structure of MoS(2) nanosheets were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The effects of grinding solvents on the gas-sensing performance of the MoS(2) nanosheets were investigated for the first time. The results show that the sensitivities of MoS(2) nanosheet exfoliation with N-methylpyrrolidone were 2.4-, 1.4-, 1.9-, and 2.7-fold higher than exfoliation with acetonitrile in the presence of formaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol and 98% relative humidity, respectively. MoS(2) nanosheet exfoliation with N-methylpyrrolidone also has fast response and recovery characteristics to 50–1000 ppm of CH(2)O. Accordingly, although N-methylpyrrolidone cannot be removed completely from the surface of MoS(2), it has good gas sensitivity compared with other samples. Therefore, N-methylpyrrolidone is preferred for the preparation of gas-sensitive MoS(2) nanosheets in grinding-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation. The results provide an experimental basis for the preparation of two-dimensional materials and their application in gas sensors.