Colloidal solutions of niobium trisulfide and niobium triselenide

Abstract

Exfoliated nanomaterials, such as graphene and related few-layered materials, are now widely studied for electronic devices, electrodes and composites, so it is desirable to demonstrate exfoliation of a wider number of layered materials. We have shown that bulk niobium trichalcogenides NbS₃ and NbSe₃ may be stably dispersed in a number of common organic solvents by ultrasonic treatment. The most concentrated dispersions are obtained in alcoholic media (up to ∼0.443 g L⁻¹). The colloids contain thin well-crystallized nanoribbons of NbS₃ and NbSe₃. Filtration or spraying of the colloids produces strongly textured thin films with good conducting properties.