| Description |
Transition metal chalcogenides (TMC) are 2-dimensional (2D) materials that have been incorporated into field-effect transistors, integrated logic circuits, photodetectors, LEDs, flexible optoelectronic devices, sensors, and electrochemical storage materials. There are many methods (colloidal, solid-state, and chemical vapor deposition) utilized by researchers to synthesize TMCs. By understanding the impact of specific synthetic methods and conditions on the electrical and optical properties of TMCs, such as morphological, electrical, and optical properties, they can be tuned for specific applications. The properties of TMCs depend on the transition metal and chalcogenide selected. Additionally, defects within the 2D material can impact the electrical and optical properties of TMCs. Understanding what kind of defects occur, how they impact desired properties, and how to control the concentration of these defects is a valuable tool in tailoring TMCs for varied applications. This work aims to understand how solid-state synthetic conditions impact the relative concentration of defects within the TMC sample. The change in electrical conductivity and band gap as a function of defect concentration is studied. An additional aim was to explore the impacts of reduced dimensionality in the TMC morphology on electrochemical performance. A novel synthetic technique was employed in this study to prepare titanium (IV) sulfide (TiS2) that resulted in a new nano-scale morphology. Incorporation of TiS2 into electrochemical cells was the method used to explore the impact of reduced dimensionality and defect concentration on the electrochemical properties of TiS2. Monovalent (Li+, Na+) and trivalent (Al3+) ions were employed toinvestigate if the effects of reduced dimensionality and defect concentration varied as a function of ion valence state. We also investigate how processing conditions impact the ability for TiS2 to bind lithium polysulfide compounds in Li-S battery systems. |
