Enhanced photoluminescence from functionalized MoS₂quantum dots embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone fibers

MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs) functionalized with diethylenetriamine (DETA) were synthesized using a pulsed laser ablation. The DETA-functionalized MoS₂ QDs were further embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers through an electrospinning process. Compared to the DETA-functionalized MoS₂ QDs, the DETA-functionalized MoS₂QDs/PVP fibers exhibit an increase in the photoluminescence (PL) with an enhancement as high as 9.5-fold. On the basis of FTIR measurements, incorporation of the DETA-functionalized QDs into PVP fibers forms hydrogen bonds between amine groups of the QDs and carbonyl groups in PVP. The hydrogen bonding in the QDs/PVP fibers passivates the defects on the QD surface, enhancing the PL intensity in QDs. From the temperature-dependent PL studies, the QDs embedded in PVP fibers exhibit good thermal stability, which is advantageous for potential applications.