The application of nanostructured transition metal sulfides as anodes for lithium ion batteries

With wide application of electric vehicles and large-scale in energy storage systems, the requirement ofsecondary batteries with higher power density and better safety gets urgent. Owing to the merits of hightheoretical capacity, relatively low cost and suitable discharge voltage, much attention has been paid tothe transition metal sulfides. Recently, a large amount of research papers have reported about the appli-cation of transition metal sulfides in lithium ion batteries. However, the practical application of transitionmetal sulfides is still impeded by their fast capacity fading and poor rate performance. More well-focusedresearches should be operated towards the commercialization of transition metal sulfides in lithium ionbatteries. In this review, recent development of using transition metal sulfides such as copper sulfides,molybdenum sulfides, cobalt sulfides, and iron sulfides as electrode materials for lithium ion batteriesis presented. In addition, the electrochemical reaction mechanisms and synthetic strategy of transitionmetal sulfides are briefly summarized. The critical issues, challenges, and perspectives providing a fur-ther understanding of the associated electrochemical processes are also discussed.

Memristive Devices Based on Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Chalcogenides for Neuromorphic Computing

Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal chalcogenides(TMC)and their heterostructures are appealing as building blocks in a wide range of electronic and optoelectronic devices,particularly futuristic memristive and synaptic devices for brain-inspired neuromorphic computing systems.The distinct properties such as high durability,electrical and optical tunability,clean surface,flexibility,and LEGO-staking capability enable simple fabrication with high integration density,energy-efficient operation,and high scalability.This review provides a thorough examination of high-performance memristors based on 2D TMCs for neuromorphic computing applications,including the promise of 2D TMC materials and heterostructures,as well as the state-of-the-art demonstration of memristive devices.The challenges and future prospects for the development of these emerging materials and devices are also discussed.The purpose of this review is to provide an outlook on the fabrication and characterization of neuromorphic memristors based on 2D TMCs.

Transforming a Two-Dimensional Layered Insulator into a Semiconductor or a Highly Conductive Metal through Transition Metal Ion Intercalation

Atomically thin two-dimensional(2D) materials are the building bricks for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics, which demand plentiful functional properties in mechanics, transport, magnetism and photoresponse.For electronic devices, not only metals and high-performance semiconductors but also insulators and dielectric materials are highly desirable. Layered structures composed of 2D materials of different properties can be delicately designed as various useful heterojunction or homojunction devices, in which the designs on the same material(namely homojunction) are of special interest because preparation techniques can be greatly simplified and atomically seamless interfaces can be achieved. We demonstrate that the insulating pristine ZnPS_3, a ternary transition-metal phosphorus trichalcogenide, can be transformed into a highly conductive metal and an n-type semiconductor by intercalating Co and Cu atoms, respectively. The field-effect-transistor(FET) devices are prepared via an ultraviolet exposure lithography technique. The Co-ZnPS_3 device exhibits an electrical conductivity of 8 × 10^(4) S/m, which is comparable to the conductivity of graphene. The Cu-ZnPS_3 FET reveals a current ON/OFF ratio of 1-05 and a mobility of 3 × 10^(-2 )cm^(2)·V^(-1)·s^(-1). The realization of an insulator, a typical semiconductor and a metallic state in the same 2D material provides an opportunity to fabricate n-metal homojunctions and other in-plane electronic functional devices.

Lewis acid-doped transition metal dichalcogenides for ultraviolet–visible photodetectors

Ultraviolet photodetectors(UV PDs)are widely used in civilian,scientific,and military fields due to their high sensitivity and low false alarm rates.We present a temperature-dependent Lewis acid p-type doping method for transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),which can effectively be used to extend the optical response range.The p-type doping based on surface charge transfer involves the chemical adsorption of the Lewis acid SnCl_(4)as a light absorption layer on the surface of WS_(2),significantly enhancing its UV photodetection performance.Under 365 nm laser irradiation,WS_(2)PDs exhibit response speed of 24 ms/20 ms,responsivity of 660 mA/W,detectivity of 3.3×10^(11)Jones,and external quantum efficiency of 226%.Moreover,we successfully apply this doping method to other TMDs materials(such as MoS_(2),MoSe_(2),and WSe_(2))and fabricate WS_(2) lateral p–n heterojunction PDs.

Preparation of Low Cost Activated Carbon from Deactivated Resin Catalyst for Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether Synthesis and Its Application in Dimethyl Sulfide Adsorption with Transition Metal Impregnation

In this paper, a low-cost activated carbon(AC) was prepared from deactivated resin catalyst(DRC) for methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE) synthesis through carbonization and subsequent steam activation treatment. The activated carbon was characterized in detail. After loading various transition metals, including Cu^(2+), Ag+, Co^(2+), Ni^(2+), Zn^(2+), and Fe^(3+) via the ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method, a series of metal-loaded adsorbents(xM-AC) were obtained and their dimethyl sulfide(DMS) adsorption performance was investigated in a batch system. Among these adsorbents, 15Cu-AC presented a superior DMS adsorption capacity equating to 58.986 mg/g due to the formation of S-M(σ) bonds between Cu^(2+) and sulfur atoms of DMS as confirmed by the Raman spectra and kinetic study.

Recent Progress in Emerging Two‑Dimensional Transition Metal Carbides

As a new member in two-dimensional materials family,transition metal carbides(TMCs)have many excellent properties,such as chemical stability,in-plane anisotropy,high conductivity and flexibility,and remarkable energy conversation efficiency,which predispose them for promising applications as transparent electrode,flexible electronics,broadband photodetectors and battery electrodes.However,up to now,their device applications are in the early stage,especially because their controllable synthesis is still a great challenge.This review systematically summarized the state-of-the-art research in this rapidly developing field with particular focus on structure,property,synthesis and applicability of TMCs.Finally,the current challenges and future perspectives are outlined for the application of 2D TMCs.

Local Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Towards Quantum Emitters

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides(2D TMDCs)have received considerable attention in local strain engineering due to their extraordinary mechanical flexibility,electonic structure,and optical properties.The strain-induced out-of-plane deformations in 2D TMDCs lead to diverse excitonic behaviors and versatile modulations in optical properties,paving the way for the development of advanced quantum technologies,flexible optoelectronic materials,and straintronic devices.Research on local strain engineering on 2D TMDCs has been delved into fabrication techniques,electronic state variations,and quantum optical applications.This review begins by summarizing the state-of-the-art methods for introducing local strain into 2D TMDCs,followed by an exploration of the impact of local strain engineering on optical properties.The intriguing phenomena resulting from local strain,such as exciton funnelling and anti-funnelling,are also discussed.We then shift the focus to the application of locally strained 2D TMDCs as quantum emitters,with various strategies outlined for modulating the properties of TMDC-based quantum emitters.Finally,we discuss the remaining questions in this field and provide an outlook on the future of local strain engineering on 2D TMDCs.

Reactions of Group V Metal Atoms with Hydrogen Sulfide： Argon Matrix Infrared Spectra and Theoretical Calculations

The reaction of laser-ablated vanadium, niobium and tantalum atoms with hydrogen sulfide has been investigated using matrix isolation FTIR and theoretical calculations. The metal atoms inserted into the H-S bond of H2S to form the HMSH molecules （M=V, Nb, Ta）, which rearranged to H2MS molecules on annealing for Nb and Ta. The HMSH molecule can also further react with another H2S to form the H2M（SH）2 molecules. These new molecules were identified on the basis of the D2S and H234S isotopic substitutions. DFT （B3LYP and BPW91） theoretical calculations are used to predict energies, geometries, and vibrational frequencies for these novel metal dihydrido complexes and molecules. Reaction mechanism for formation of group V dihydrido complex was investigated by DFT internal reaction coordinate calculations. The dissociation of HVSH gave VS＋H2 on broad band irradiation and reverse reaction happened on annealing. Based on B3LYP calculation releasing hydrogen from HVSH is endothermic only by 13.5 kcal/mol with lower energy barrier of 16.9 kcal/mol.

Recent Progress of Two-Dimensional Thermoelectric Materials

Thermoelectric generators have attracted a wide research interest owing to their ability to directly convert heat into electrical power.Moreover,the thermoelectric properties of traditional inorganic and organic materials have been significantly improved over the past few decades.Among these compounds,layered two-dimensional(2D)materials,such as graphene,black phosphorus,transition metal dichalcogenides,IVA–VIA compounds,and MXenes,have generated a large research attention as a group of potentially high-performance thermoelectric materials.Due to their unique electronic,mechanical,thermal,and optoelectronic properties,thermoelectric devices based on such materials can be applied in a variety of applications.Herein,a comprehensive review on the development of 2D materials for thermoelectric applications,as well as theoretical simulations and experimental preparation,is presented.In addition,nanodevice and new applications of 2D thermoelectric materials are also introduced.At last,current challenges are discussed and several prospects in this field are proposed.

Efficient photoelectrodes based on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides heterostructures:from design to construction

Hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting converts the inexhaustible supply of solar radiation to storable H2 as clean energy and thus has received widespread attention.The efficiency of PEC water splitting is largely determined by the properties of the photoelectrodes.Two-dimensional(2 D) layered transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs) are promising candidates for photoelectrodes due to their atomic layer thickness,tunable bandgap,large specific surface area,and high carrier mobility.Moreover,the construction of 2 D TMDs heterostructures provides freedom in material design,which facilitates the further improvement of PEC water splitting.This review begins by describing the mechanism of PEC water splitting and the advantages of 2 D TMDbased heterostructures for photo electrodes.Then,the design considerations of the heterostructures for enhanced PEC efficiency are comprehensively reviewed with a focus on material selection,band engineering,surface modification,and long-term durability.Finally,current challenges and future perspectives for the development of photoelectrodes based on 2 D TMDs heterostructures are addressed.

Two-dimensional alloyed transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets:Synthesis and applications

Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenide(TMD)nanosheets have attracted considerable attention owing to their diverse properties and great potential in a wide range of applications.In order to further tune their properties and then broaden their application domain,large efforts have been devoted into engineering the structures of 2D TMD nanosheets at atomic scale,especially the alloying technology.Alloying different 2D TMD nanosheets into 2D alloys not only offers the opportunities to fine-tune their physical/chemical properties,but also opens up some unique properties,which are highly desirable for wide applications including electronics,optoelectronics and catalysis.This review summarizes the recent progress in the preparation,characterization and applications of 2D alloyed TMD nanosheets.

Progress and Prospects of Transition Metal Sulfides for Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion battery(SIB),one of most promising battery technologies,offers an alternative low-cost solution for scalable energy storage.Developing advanced electrode materials with superior electrochemical performance is of great significance for SIBs.Transition metal sulfides that emerge as promising anode materials have advantageous features particularly for electrochemical redox reaction,including high theoretical capacity,good cycling stability,easily-controlled structure and modifiable chemical composition.In this review,recent progress of transition metal sulfides based materials for SIBs is summarized by discussing the materials properties,advanced design strategies,electrochemical reaction mechanism and their applications in sodium-ion full batteries.Moreover,we propose several promising strategies to overcome the challenges of transition metal sulfides for SIBs,paving the way to explore and construct advanced electrode materials for SIBs and other energy storage devices.

Two-dimensional noble transition-metal dichalcogenides for nanophotonics and optoelectronics:Status and prospects

An emerging subclass of transition-metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),noble-transition-metal dichalcogenides(NMDs),has led to an increase in nanoscientific research in two-dimensional(2D)materials.NMDs feature a unique structure and several useful properties.2D NMDs are promising candidates for a broad range of applications in areas such as photodetectors,phototransistors,saturable absorbers,and meta optics.In this review,the state of the art of 2D NMDs research,their structures,properties,synthesis,and potential applications are discussed,and a perspective of expected future developments is provided.

Shining light on transition metal sulfides:New choices as highly efficient antibacterial agents

Globally,millions of people die of microbial infection-related diseases every year.The more terrible situation is that due to the overuse of antibiotics,especially in developing countries,people are struggling to fight with the bacteria variation.The emergence of super-bacteria will be an intractable environmental and health hazard in the future unless novel bactericidal weapons are mounted.Consequently,it is critical to develop viable antibacterial approaches to sustain the prosperous development of human society.Recent researches indicate that transition metal sulfides(TMSs)represent prominent bactericidal application potential owing to the meritorious antibacterial performance,acceptable biocompatibility,high solar energy utilization efficiency,and excellent photo-to-thermal conversion characteristics,and thus,a comprehensive review on the recent advances in this area would be beneficial for the future development.In this review article,we start with the antibacterial mechanisms of TMSs to provide a preliminary understanding.Thereafter,the state-of-the-art research progresses on the strategies for TMSs materials engineering so as to promote their antibacterial properties are systematically surveyed and summarized,followed by a summary of the practical application scenarios of TMSs-based antibacterial platforms.Finally,based on the thorough survey and analysis,we emphasize the challenges and future development trends in this area.

First-principle high-throughput calculations of carrier effective masses of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides

Two-dimensional group-VIB transition metal dichalcogenides（with the formula of MX2） emerge as a family of intensely investigated semiconductors that are promising for both electronic（because of their reasonable carrier mobility） and optoelectronic（because of their direct band gap at monolayer thickness） applications. Effective mass is a crucial physical quantity determining carriers transport, and thus the performance of these applications. Here we present based on first-principles high-throughput calculations a computational study of carrier effective masses of the two-dimensional MX2 materials. Both electron and hole effective masses of different MX2（M = Mo, W and X = S, Se, Te）, including in-layer/out-of-layer components, thickness dependence, and magnitude variation in heterostructures, are systemically calculated. The numerical results, chemical trends, and the insights gained provide useful guidance for understanding the key factors controlling carrier effective masses in the MX2 system and further engineering the mass values to improve device performance.

Tailoring the spin state of active sites in amorphous transition metal sulfides topromoteoxygen electrocatalysis

Spin regulation of active sites is sparking much interest in boosting oxygen electrocatalytic performance.However,in amorphous electrocatalysts,the design principle of spin regulation to promote catalytic activity remains unclear.Herein,we synthesized a series of heteroatom-doped amorphous transition metal sulfides with regulated spin states using a one-step hydrothermal process.Especially in Modoped CoS,the spin state of Co^(2+)was successfully modulated to the low-spin state,which could optimize the adsorption free energy of various intermediates,improving the oxygen reduction reaction kinetics.The fabricated Zn-air batteries(ZABs)delivered good cycle stability(over 100 h).The large ZAB(100 cm^(2))exhibited a high discharge voltage(1.25 V under 0.5 A)and a superior overall mass-energy density(93 W h kg^(−1)),which illuminated a 2.5-m light-emitting-diode ribbon for over seven days.This work provides new insight into the mechanism of engineering spin states in amorphous materials for oxygen electrocatalysis.

Band structure engineering through van der Waals heterostructing superlattices of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides

The indirect-to-direct band-gap transition in transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)from bulk to monolayer,accompanying with other unique properties of two-dimensional materials,has endowed them great potential in optoelectronic devices.The easy transferability and feasible epitaxial growth pave a promising way to further tune the optical properties by constructing van der Waals heterostructures.Here,we performed a systematic high-throughput first-principles study of electronic structure and optical properties of the layerby-layer stacking TMDCs heterostructing superlattices,with the configuration space of[(MX2)n(M0X02)10−n](M/M0=Cr,Mo,W;X/X0=S,Se,Te;n=0-10).Our calculations involving long-range dispersive interaction show that the indirect-to-direct band-gap transition or even semiconductor-to-metal transition can be realized by changing component compositions of superlattices.Further analysis indicates that the indirect-to-direct band-gap transition can be ascribed to the in-plane strain induced by lattice mismatch.The semiconductor-to-metal transition may be attributed to the band offset among different components that is modified by the in-plane strain.The superlattices with direct band-gap show quite weak band-gap optical transition because of the spacial separation of the electronic states involved.In general,the layers stacking-order of superlattices results in a small up to 0.2 eV band gap fluctuation because of the built-in potential.Our results provide useful guidance for engineering band structure and optical properties in TMDCs heterostructing superlattices.

Synthesis of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides for electronics and optoelectronics

Tremendous efforts have been devoted to preparing the ultrathin two-dimensional(2D)transition-metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)and TMDCS-based heterojunctions owing to their unique properties and great potential applications in next generation electronics and optoelectronics over the past decade.However,to fulfill the demands for practical applications,the batch production of 2D TMDCs with high quality and large area at the mild condi-tions is still a challenge.This feature article reviews the state-of-the art research progresses that focus on the preparation and the applications in elec-tronics and optoelectronics of 2D TMDCs and their van der Waals hetero-junctions.First,the preparation methods including chemical and physical vapor deposition growth are comprehensively outlined.Then,recent progress on the application of fabricated 2D TMDCs based materials is revealed with particular attention to electronic(eg,field effect transistors and logic circuits)and optoelectronic(eg,photodetectors,photovoltaics,and light emitting diodes)devices.Finally,the challenges and future prospects are considered based on the current advance of 2D TMDCs and related heterojunctions.

Applications of transition-metal sulfides in the cathodes of lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries are considered as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems with high energy density and reliable performance.However,the commercial applications of lithium-sulfur batteries is hindered by several shortcomings like the poor conductivity of sulfur and its reaction products,and the loss of active materials owing to the diffusion of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)into the electrolyte.Hence,the effective restraining of the LiPSs and the promotion of the sluggish conversion are highly demanded to fulfill the potential of lithium-sulfur batteries.Here,we summarize the applications of transition-metal sulfides(TMSs)in the cathodes over recent years and demonstrate the unique advantages they possess to realize reliable long-life lithium-sulfur batteries.