Synthesis of rare earth doped MoS2 by the co-pyrolysis of molecular precursors

Abstract

Abstract The synthesis of Er- and Nd-doped MoS 2 powders by the co-pyrolysis of molecular precursors is demonstrated by heating tetrakis- (diethyldithiocarbamato) molybdenum(IV) (Mo(DTC) 4 ) and mono- 1,10-phenanthroline tris -(diethyl dithiocarbamato) erbium(III) or mono- 1,10-phenanthroline tris -(diethyl dithiocarbamato) neodymium(III) (Ln(DTC) 3 phen, where Ln = Er, Nd) to 500 °C for 1 h. Powder x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the resulting powders produced from this reaction are comprised of 0D nanoscale crystallites of the 2 H phase of MoS 2 . Spatial mapping of elements in these samples was performed in the scanning electron microscope at the microscale using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic mapping, which showed that the dopants are homogeneously distributed throughout the samples. Synchrotron radiation x-ray absorption measurements tentatively indicate that the dopants are incorporated within the MoS 2 layers rather than being intercalated between them. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry demonstrated that rare earth doping of MoS 2 significantly enhances the magnetic response of the material. Remarkably, the samples are found to remain paramagnetic down to temperature at least as low as 2 K.