Vertical ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets on a flexible substrate as an efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Vertical MoS2 nanosheets with both large specific surface areas and sharp, active edges are strongly desirable due to their potential applications as catalysts, sensors and field emitters. Nevertheless, the growth of vertical MoS2 nanosheets is still a challenge and has rarely been reported. In this contribution, vertical ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets were grown on diverse substrates via a facile chemical vapor deposition method using CS2 as the sulfur precursor. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that CS2 has been applied as the sulfur source for the CVD growth of MoS2. In comparison with sulfur powder, the conventional sulfur source, CS2, can be imported in the growth chamber by a carrying gas, which provides considerable convenience for controlling growth parameters. Vertical MoS2 nanosheets presented a comparable catalytic activity to Pt on triiodide reduction and were used as efficient counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells.