Graphene-like 2H/1T-MoSe₂ with superior full spectrum absorption: Morphology and phase engineering

Superabsorbers can find application in the fields of solar cells, blackbody radiation, thermal control systems, and stray light elimination devices. Herein, graphene-like 2H/1T-molybdenum diselenide (MoSe₂) was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and shows superhigh solar absorption (~99%) within a range of 200–2500 nm. In the synthesis, selenium dioxide (SeO₂) was used as a Se source instead of Se powder, which plays an important role in manipulating the graphene-like morphology and the multiphasic composition of the MoSe₂. Consequently, the as-prepared MoSe₂ nanoflowers possess desired band structure and abundant pores and pore channels for strong optical absorption. DFT calculations clarify that the 1T-MoSe₂ primarily contributes to the superior optical absorption over the 2H-MoSe₂. This work provides a facile strategy for enhancing the optical absorption of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) by engineering morphology and phase.