Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of MoS₂/Graphene Heterostructure by Liquid-Phase Exfoliation

Here, we report the synthesis of MoS₂/graphene heterostructure in single-stage, liquid-phase exfoliation using a 7:3 isopropyl alcohol/water mixture. Further, the synthesized heterostructure was characterized using UV-visible and micro-Raman spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. UV-visible and micro-Raman analyses confirmed that the synthesized heterostructure had mostly few-layered (two-to-four sheets) MoS₂. The photophysical properties of the heterostructure were analyzed using steady-state and time-resolved luminescence techniques. Enhanced photoluminescence was observed in the case of the heterostructure probably due to an increase in the defect sites or reduction in the rate of nonradiative decay upon formation of the sandwiched heterostructure. Applications of this heterostructure for fluorescence live-cell imaging were carried out, and the heterostructure demonstrated a better luminescence contrast compared to its individual counterpart MoS₂ in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).