Solvated‐Electron‐Driven Intercalation Enables Electron‐Rich K x NbS 2 Construction and Exfoliation

ABSTRACT While creating electron‐rich states can tune material properties, achieving this in van der Waals ( vdW ) materials lacking cationic frameworks remains challenging. Here, we report a molten‐salt solvated‐electron strategy that injects electrons into the vdW gaps of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). Using a Ga‐KCl system, we construct an electron‐rich intermediate K x NbS 2 ( x ≤0.5), wherein coupled K + intercalation provides charge compensation and drives superlattice formation. Spectroscopic characterization confirm electron injection and partial reduction of the host lattice. This state enables solvent‐dependent exfoliation, protic solvents drive a chemical pathway, whereas aprotic solvents facilitate physical delamination via electrostatic repulsion. Demonstrating applicability across TMDCs (NbS 2 , TaS 2 , NbSe 2 and WS 2 ), alkali salts, and electron donors, this strategy provides a route to engineer the electronic structures and interlayer interactions of two‐dimensional (2D) materials for catalysis and quantum applications.

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Publication Details

Journal
Small Methods
Published
2026-10-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.71145
Primary Topic
2D Materials and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Solvated‐Electron‐Driven Intercalation Enables Electron‐Rich K x NbS 2 Construction and Exfoliation

Zhifang Chai, Qing Huang, Lin Gao, Jun Ma et al.
Small Methods
2D Materials and Applications
article

Solvated‐Electron‐Driven Intercalation Enables Electron‐Rich K x NbS 2 Construction and Exfoliation

Zhifang Chai, Qing Huang, Lin Gao, Jun Ma, Xiaoping Ouyang, Mian Li, Changjiang Hu
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT While creating electron‐rich states can tune material properties, achieving this in van der Waals ( vdW ) materials lacking cationic frameworks remains challenging. Here, we report a molten‐salt solvated‐electron strategy that injects electrons into the vdW gaps of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). Using a Ga‐KCl system, we construct an electron‐rich intermediate K x NbS 2 ( x ≤0.5), wherein coupled K + intercalation provides charge compensation and drives superlattice formation. Spectroscopic characterization confirm electron injection and partial reduction of the host lattice. This state enables solvent‐dependent exfoliation, protic solvents drive a chemical pathway, whereas aprotic solvents facilitate physical delamination via electrostatic repulsion. Demonstrating applicability across TMDCs (NbS 2 , TaS 2 , NbSe 2 and WS 2 ), alkali salts, and electron donors, this strategy provides a route to engineer the electronic structures and interlayer interactions of two‐dimensional (2D) materials for catalysis and quantum applications.

Small Methods
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), Ningbo Institute of Industrial Technology (CN), Yongjiang Laboratory (CN), Xiangtan University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 28%
2D Materials and Applications
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