Direct observation of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2, domains by using a liquid crystalline texture method

Because the properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are strongly influenced by the sizes and boundaries of its domains, the direct visualization of large-area MoS2 domains is one of the most important challenges in MoS2 research. In the current study, we developed a simple and rapid method to observe and determine the boundaries of MoS2 domains. The technique, which depends on observations of nematic liquid crystal textures on the MoS2 surface, does not damage the sample and is not limited by domain size. Thus, this approach should significantly aid not only efforts aimed at gaining an understanding of the relationships between grain boundaries and properties of MoS2 but also those focusing on how domain sizes are controlled during large-area synthesis.