Photoluminescence quenching in gold - MoS2 hybrid nanoflakes

Achieving tunability of two dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) functions calls for the introduction of hybrid 2D materials by means of localized interactions with zero dimensional (0D) materials. A metal-semiconductor interface, as in gold (Au) - molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), is of great interest from the standpoint of fundamental science as it constitutes an outstanding platform to investigate plasmonic-exciton interactions and charge transfer. The applied aspects of such systems introduce new options for electronics, photovoltaics, detectors, gas sensing, catalysis and biosensing. Here we consider pristine MoS 2 and study its interaction with Au nanoislands, resulting in local variations of photoluminescence (PL) in Au-MoS 2 hybrid structures. By depositing monolayers of Au on MoS 2 , we investigate the electronic structure of the resulting hybrid systems. We present strong evidence of PL quenching of MoS 2 as a result of charge transfer from MoS 2 to Au: p-doping of MoS 2 . The results suggest new avenues for 2D nanoelectronics, active control of transport or catalytic properties.