Molecular Functionalization of 2D MoS2 Nanosheets.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets have attracted great scientific interest for their remarkable electronic and optical properties. During the last few years significant progress on exfoliation methods of those nanosheets allowed the development of surface functionalization in covalent or non-covalent fashion. Markedly, the chemical modification allows tailoring and tuning the optical and electronic characteristics of MoS2, opening new avenues for the potentiality of MoS2-based hybrids in diverse technological fields. Physisorption of organic molecules onto MoS2 via the development of numerous van der Waals interactions is the most widely approach employed for the surface non-covalent immobilization of organic species onto MoS2 nanosheets. Conversely, developed strategies for the edge and in-plane covalent functionalization of MoS2 mainly concern chemistry at S vacancies, direct C-S bond formation, and coordination of S edges at metal centers. Herein, we focus into the most representative molecular doping strategies and material designing of MoS2-based hybrid nanostructures carrying photo- and/or electro-active components. Key points related with the exfoliation routes, the surface functionalization approaches and their impact on the electronic properties of the functionalized nanosheets are comprehensively discussed, offering a toolbox for scientists of different disciplines interested in putting a step forward on transition metal dichalcogenide-based materials.