The covalent functionalization of few-layered MoTe2 thin films with iodonium salts

Guselnikova, O., Fraser, J.P., Soldatova, N., Sviridova, E., Ivanov, A., Rodriguez, R., Ganin, A.Y. and Postnikov, P. (2022) The covalent functionalization of few-layered MoTe2 thin films with iodonium salts. Materials Today Chemistry, 24, 100846. (doi: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.100846)

Abstract

Covalent functionalization of 2D materials provides a tailored approach towards tuning of their chemical, optical, and electronic properties making the search for new ways to graft small molecules important. Herein, the reaction with (3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)iodonium salt is revealed as an effective strategy for functionalization of MoTe2 thin films. Upon decomposition of the salt, the generated radicals graft covalently as aryl-(CF3)2 groups at the surface of both metallic (1T’) and semiconducting (2H) polymorphs of MoTe2. Remarkably, the reactivity of the salt is governed by the electronic structure of the given polymorph. While the functionalization of the metallic MoTe2 occurs spontaneously, the semiconducting MoTe2 requires activation by light. The reaction proceeds with the elimination of oxide from the original films yielding the functionalized products that remain protected in ambient conditions, presenting a viable solution to the ageing of MoTe2 in air.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF-17-73-20066). AYG and JPF acknowledge EPSRC (EP/N509668/1) for supporting their work.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ganin, Dr Alexey and Fraser, Mr James
• Authors: Guselnikova, O., Fraser, J.P., Soldatova, N., Sviridova, E., Ivanov, A., Rodriguez, R., Ganin, A.Y., and Postnikov, P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Materials Today Chemistry
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2468-5194
• ISSN (Online): 2468-5194
• Published Online: 21 March 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Materials Today Chemistry 24: 100846
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy