MoS2-Based Hybrid Piezoelectric Materials

Abstract

The utilization of renewable energy is the primary focus of the scientific world today. However, the large initial cost, space requirements, and low technological upgrades fade its merits, and lead to difficulty in its establishment. Therefore, energy harvesting is a viable option that operates by the piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric effect is the property of a material that creates voltage when it undergoes deformation. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), have demonstrated piezoelectric capabilities because of their non-centrosymmetric crystal structure, which enables the formation of a dipole moment when the material is stressed. In contrast, the application of an external electric field develops deformation in the MoS2 structure known as the inverse piezoelectric effect. Furthermore, the piezoelectric output depends on various factors of the MoS2 material, such as the number of atomic layers, crystal orientation, and the point of application of strain. The present chapter aims to cover the background of the working mechanism, various preparation methods, and piezoelectric energy harvesting of MoS2-based materials.