Liquid Exfoliation of Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Biological Applications

Known to possess distinctive properties that differ greatly from their bulk form, layered two-dimensional materials have been extensively studied and incorporated into many versatile applications ranging from optoelectronics to sensors. For biomedical research, two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDs) have garnered much interest as they have been shown to exhibit relatively low toxicity, high stability in aqueous environments, and the ability to adhere to biological materials such as proteins. These materials are promising candidates, demonstrating potential applications in biosensing, cell imaging, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Preparation and exfoliation of 2D TMDs play an important part in these various applications as their properties are heavily dependent on the number of layers and lateral size. Described in this article are protocols for the liquid exfoliation of 2D TMDs from their bulk materials. Additional protocols are also provided for functionalizing or modifying the surface of the exfoliated 2D TMDs. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.