Epitaxial Growth of Two-Dimensional Nonlayered AuCrS 2 Materials via Au-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Two-dimensional (2D) nonlayered transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials are emergent platforms for various applications from catalysis to quantum devices. However, their limited availability and nonstraightforward synthesis methods hinder our understanding of these materials. Here, we present a novel technique for synthesizing 2D nonlayered AuCrS 2 via Au-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Our detailed structural analysis reveals the layer-by-layer growth of [AuCrS 2 ] units atop an initial CrS 2 monolayer, with Au binding to the adjacent monolayer of CrS 2 , which is in stark contrast with the well-known metal intercalation mechanism in the synthesis of many other 2D nonlayered materials. Theoretical calculations further back the crucial role of Cr in increasing the mobility of Au species and strengthening the adsorption energy of Au on CrS 2 , thereby aiding the growth throughout the CVD process. Additionally, the resulting free-standing nanoporous AuCrS 2 (NP-AuCrS 2 ) exhibits exceptional electrocatalytic properties for the hydrogen evolution reaction.