Influence of seeding promoters on the properties of CVD grown monolayer molybdenum disulfide

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is the most efficient method to grow large-area two dimensional (2D) transition metal dichiacogenides (TMDCs) in high quality. Monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and seed-assistant are the mostly selected 2D TMDC and growth strategy for such CVD processes, respectively. Though the advantages of seed catalysts in facilitating the nucleation, achieving higher yield and better repeatability, as well as their effects on the morphologies of as-grown MoS₂ have been studied, the influence of seeding promoters on both optical and electrical properties of as-grown monolayer MoS₂ is not known comprehensively, which is indeed critical for understanding fundamental physics and developing practical application of such emerging 2D semiconductors. In this report, we systematically investigated the effect of different seeding promoters on the properties of CVD-grown monolayer MoS₂. It is found that different seed molecules lead to different impacts on the optical and electrical properties of as-grown monolayer MoS₂. Among three different seed catalysts (perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylic acid tetrapotassium salt (PTAS), copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), and crystal violet (CV)), PTAS performs better in obtaining large area monolayer MoS₂ with good optical quality and high electrical mobility than the other two. Our work gives a guide for modifying the properties of as-grown monolayer MoS₂ and other 2D transition metal dichalcogenides in seeding promoters-assisted synthesis process.