Preparation and characterization of molybdenum disulfide (mos2) thin films on flexible substrates

Abstract

The production of stable thin films on flexible substrates is a fundamental prerequisite for producing flexible electronic devices. In this work, our primary objective was to synthesize stable MoS2 thin films on flexible Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) substrates by the Liquid Phase Exfoliation (LPE) method. We sought to comprehend how these substrates influenced crucial film characteristics, encompassing topography, morphology, optical transmission, and film resistance. Additionally, we explored the impact of mechanical stress on the electrical behavior of these films. Our investigation uncovered significant variations in these critical aspects. The MoS2 film on the PE substrate exhibited the smoothest surface, while the MoS2 film on the PP substrate had a smaller estimated average grain area. MoS2 films on all the substrates demonstrated high film resistance, with the MoS2 film on PE displaying the lowest resistance at minimal applied current. Furthermore, the resistance of all films increased with repeated bending. These essential insights are crucial for the development of flexible electronic devices based on MoS2 thin films. These important findings has high potential to pave the way for the production of cost-effective and efficient MoS2 thin films as well as diverse applications of these films in the realm of flexible electronics.