Laser-Fabricated MoS 2 Nanoparticles as Efficient Near-Infrared Photosensitizers

Nanostructures made from transition metal dichalcogenides represent unique platform for realization of light-matter interaction at the nanoscale. This work is dedicated to laser engineering of spherical resonant Mie-excitonic nanoparticles from layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ). We demonstrate the laser-based approach for synthesis of water-dispersed ultra-stable spherical MoS 2 nanoparticles of variable size 10–150 nm. Such nanoparticles demonstrate exciting optical and electronic properties inherited from the initial crystal, due to preserved crystalline structure, which offers a unique combination of pronounced excitonic response and high refractive index value, making possible a strong concentration of electromagnetic field in nanoparticles. Moreover, it was found that laser fragmentation of produced colloidal solutions of MoS 2 nanoparticles leads to its oxidation accompanied by evolution of its optical response. Such partially oxidized MoS x O y nanoparticles provide efficient absorption of near-infrared radiation making them perfect candidates for biomedical theranostics applications.