Nanoparticle@MoS₂ Core–Shell Architecture: Role of the Core Material

Core@shell architectures provide a rich platform for designing new geometries composed of various functional nanomaterials. Recent work has shown that Au@MoS2 core@shell structures exhibit strong light–matter interactions and promising optoelectronic device performance. However, the role of the core on Au@MoS2 growth dynamics is not well understood, leaving the question of if this unusual structure is extendable to other materials systems unanswered. Herein, we present unambiguous evidence of MoS2 encapsulation of new crystalline and even noncrystalline core materials, including Ag and silica. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows intimate contact between each core material and their highly crystalline, conformal MoS2 shells. We propose a generalized growth mechanism for these structures, which is supported by density functional theory energy calculations and implies wider applicability of transition metal dichalcogenide encapsulation to other functional nanoparticles. Further, we demonstrate that altering the core material is a useful methodology to achieve distinct optical responses, as reflected in the photoluminescence measurements and corroborated by discrete dipole approximation calculations. By exploring the role of the core material on synthesis and properties in this architectural platform, we introduce a multiplexed nanoparticle@MoS2 paradigm with numerous viable avenues for future structural and property investigation.