Roll-to-Roll Production of Layer-Controlled Molybdenum Disulfide: A Platform for 2D Semiconductor-Based Industrial Applications

A facile methodology for the large-scale production of layer-controlled MoS2 layers on an inexpensive substrate involving a simple coating of single source precursor with subsequent roll-to-roll-based thermal decomposition is developed. The resulting 50 cm long MoS2 layers synthesized on Ni foils possess excellent long-range uniformity and optimum stoichiometry. Moreover, this methodology is promising because it enables simple control of the number of MoS2 layers by simply adjusting the concentration of (NH4)(2)MoS4. Additionally, the capability of the MoS2 for practical applications in electronic/optoelectronic devices and catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction is verified. The MoS2-based field effect transistors exhibit unipolar n-channel transistor behavior with electron mobility of 0.6 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and an on-off ratio of approximate to 10(3). The MoS2-based visible-light photodetectors are fabricated in order to evaluate their photoelectrical properties, obtaining an 100% yield for active devices with significant photocurrents and extracted photoresponsivity of approximate to 22 mA W-1. Moreover, the MoS2 layers on Ni foils exhibit applicable catalytic activity with observed overpotential of approximate to 165 mV and a Tafel slope of 133 mV dec(-1). Based on these results, it is envisaged that the cost-effective methodology will trigger actual industrial applications, as well as novel research related to 2D semiconductor-based multifaceted applications.