Jayson Foster, Dixie State University
WSe2 nanoplates have strong potential applications in solar energy, catalysis, and optoelectronics. They have been observed to display screw dislocation growth, forming a variety of shapes including triangles and hexagons, with properties dependent on the shape of the dislocation. So far, properties of these nanoplates have been uncontrollable. The objective of this study is to develop methods that will control the properties of these nanoplates. The WSe2 nanoplates were synthesized via annealing and UV-O3 exposure and were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Data showed that UV-O3 exposure increased WOx content, 4% after 30 minutes of exposure. The WSe2 nanoplates began decomposition via annealing around 880-950 °C, while annealing at 880 °C produced cleaner surfaces by removing dirt from nanoplate surfaces.