Morphology evolution of MoS2: From monodisperse nanoparticles to self-assembled nanobelts

Highlights: • MoS₂ nanobelts were fabricated by a fast and facile vapor phase sulfurization method. • A possible three-step growth mechanism of CVD-grown MoS₂ nanobelts was proposed. • MoS₂ nanobelts provide the possibility for further MoS₂-based planar devices. The MoS₂ nanobelts were successfully synthesized on SiO₂/Si substrates using a vapor phase sulfurization process. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques are employed to comprehensively study the morphology evolution of MoS₂ from monodisperse nanoparticles to self-assembled nanobelts on the SiO₂/Si substrates. A possible three-step morphology evolution process, which includes initial nucleation process, self-assembly process, and subsequent crystal growth process (Ostwald ripening), is proposed to explain the formation of MoS₂. Moreover, MoS₂ nanobelts are characterized by Raman spectroscopy and photo-luminescence (PL). These results provide the possibility to develop an easier-to-cooperate and morphology-controllable approach to fabricate novel architectures.