Edge, confinement effects, and measurement of the number of layers of MoS2 nanosheets by liquid-exfoliated method assisted by different solvents.

A liquid exfoliation method is an indispensable productive approach, inhibited by our breakdown to measure nanosheet concentration, estimation, and thickness. The light scattered by MoS₂ nanosheets in liquid solvents, viz., dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and ethanol results in optical extinction spectra which determines the optoelectronic properties. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy for determining their structure, morphology, and optical properties, respectively. The minimum estimated number of layers was found to be 15 in DMSO as solvent. The liquid-phase method can be employed to a wide range of 2D material including MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]