Preparation and characterization of gold/poly(vinyl alcohol)/MoS2 intercalation nanocomposite

Gold-molybdenum disulfide nanocomposites were prepared by means of exfoliation of a layered host and subsequent in situ oxidation–reduction of the intercalated auric compounds, using the interlayer of MoS2 as the nanoreactor and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) molecules as the dispersant. The nanocomposites were characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity of the Au/PVA/MoS2 nanocomposites at various temperatures was investigated. Results indicated that Au and PVA were intercalated in the layered MoS2, at an interlayer distance of 2.072 and 0.928 nm. The intercalation of Au and PVA led to a significant increase in the electrical conductivity value of MoS2, while the electrical conductivity value of the intercalation nanocomposites decreased with decreasing temperature.