Pulsed laser fabricated few-layer MoS2 on silver

Precise control of the thickness of few-layer molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) is still a challenge for commonly utilized physical exfoliation and chemical synthesis methods. Herein, we report the successful fabrication of highly crystalline few-layer MoS2 on silver substrates by pulse laser deposition at the relatively low temperature of 500 °C. The growth process is facilitated by the in situ formation of nearly lattice-matching Ag2S on the silver surface. The number of layers is easily controlled by selection of appropriate laser energy and deposition time. This synthetic approach is straightforward and easily adapted to other transition metal dichalcogenides to create heterostructures with alternating layers.