Regular hexagonal MoS2 microflakes grown from MoO3 precursor

Regular hexagonal MoS2 microflakes with high yield were grown from MoO3 precursor by a sulfurization process using S powders as sulfuration reducer. The precursors, long and smooth MoO3 microbelts, were synthesized through a direct oxidation reaction of Mo plates in air. X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the sulfurized products were hexagonal MoS2 with regular hexagonal flake-like morphology. The results of transmission electron microscopy examinations demonstrated that the microflakes were single crystalline MoS2. Elemental analysis by EDAX and XPS showed that the microflakes consist of Mo and S with the atomic ratio near to 0.5. Factors influencing the formation of the product were systematically studied.