3-Fold-Periodic Size-Dependence in Electronic Properties of Monolayer-TMDC Nanotriangles

Stable nanotriangles of monolayer transitional metal dichalcogenides (referred herein as MS₂ mNTs) grown via ordinary deposition conditions, where M = Mo or W, exhibit a peculiar 3-fold periodic size-dependence in electronic and chemical properties. For "k" being the number of M atoms per edge, mNTs are (a) intrinsic-semiconducting when k = 3i + 1, such as k = 7, 10, 13, 16; (b) metallic-like with no bandgap when k = 3i; (c) n⁺ semiconducting when k = 3i - 1. Besides changes in electronic properties, the catalytic properties for hydrogen evolution reaction also switch from active for k = 3i and 3i - 1 to inactive for k = 3i + 1. The peculiar periodic size-dependence roots from the chemistry of edge-reconstruction and the consequential evolution of band structure. Further, such chemistry and thereby the size-dependence can be manipulated by adding or depleting the atomic concentration of sulfur atoms along the mNT edges.