Ultrafast charge transfer in mixed-dimensional WO3-x nanowire/WSe2 heterostructures for attomolar-level molecular sensing

Developing efficient noble-metal-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates and unveiling the underlying mechanism is crucial for ultrasensitive molecular sensing. Herein, we report a facile synthesis of mixed-dimensional heterostructures via oxygen plasma treatments of two-dimensional (2D) materials. As a proof-of-concept, 1D/2D WO3-x/WSe2 heterostructures with good controllability and reproducibility are synthesized, in which 1D WO3-x nanowire patterns are laterally arranged along the three-fold symmetric directions of 2D WSe2. The WO3-x/WSe2 heterostructures exhibited high molecular sensitivity, with a limit of detection of 5 x 10(-18) M and an enhancement factor of 5.0 x 10(11) for methylene blue molecules, even in mixed solutions. We associate the ultrasensitive performance to the efficient charge transfer induced by the unique structures of 1D WO3-x nanowires and the effective interlayer coupling of the heterostructures. We observed a charge transfer timescale of around 1.0 picosecond via ultrafast transient spectroscopy. Our work provides an alternative strategy for the synthesis of 1D nanostructures from 2D materials and offers insights on the role of ultrafast charge transfer mechanisms in plasmon-free SERS-based molecular sensing.

Automated summary

A facile synthesis method for mixed-dimensional heterostructures via oxygen plasma treatments of 2D materials was reported. 1D/2D WO3-x/WSe2 heterostructures exhibited high molecular sensitivity with low detection limit and high enhancement factor. The ultrasensitive performance was attributed to efficient charge transfer induced by the unique structures of 1D WO3-x nanowires and effective interlayer coupling of the heterostructures, as observed by ultrafast transient spectroscopy. This work provides insights on the role of ultrafast charge transfer mechanisms in plasmon-free SERS-based molecular sensing and presents an alternative strategy for the synthesis of 1D nanostructures from 2D materials.