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.
Authors
- Zhifang Chai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0680-6067)
- Qing Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7083-9416)
- Lin Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1559-0886)
- Jun Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7776-0751)
- Xiaoping Ouyang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9443-1084)
- Mian Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3139-7456)
- Changjiang Hu
Institutions
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Ningbo Institute of Industrial Technology (CN)
- Yongjiang Laboratory (CN)
- Xiangtan University (CN)
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
- 0.00