Facile Hydrothermal Synthesis of Monodispersed MoS2 Ultrathin Nanosheets Assisted by Ionic Liquid Brij56

Monodispersed MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets have been successfully fabricated by a facile hydrothermal process assisted by ionic liquid Brij56. The effect of Brij56 on the morphology and structure of MoS2 has been obviously observed. XRD shows that the as-prepared MoS2 assisted by Brij56 has the weak and broad peak of (002) planes, which implies the small size and well dispersed structure of MoS2 nanosheets. TEM and SEM images reveal that MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets have small size and few stacking layers with the adding of Brij56. HRTEM images prove that MoS2 appears to have a highly monodispersed morphology and to be monolayer ultrathin nanosheets with the length about 5-8 nm, which can provide more exposed rims and edges as active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction. Brij56 has played a crucial role in preparing monodispersed MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets as excellent electrocatalysts. The growth mechanism of monodispersed MoS2 has been discussed in detail.