Synthesis of nanometre-thick MoO3sheets

Abstract

The formation of MoO₃ sheets of nanoscale thickness is described. They are made from several fundamental sheets of orthorhombic α-MoO₃, which can be processed in large quantities via a low cost synthesis route that combines thermal evaporation and mechanical exfoliation. These fundamental sheets consist of double-layers of linked distorted MoO₆ octahedra. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements show that the minimum resolvable thickness of these sheets is 1.4 nm which is equivalent to the thickness of two double-layers within one unit cell of the α-MoO₃ crystal.