Mesolamellar molybdenum sulfides with intercalated cetyltrimethylammonium cations

Two mesolamellar molybdenum sulfides (designated MoS-L-A and MoS-L-B) with intercalated cetyltrimethylammonium surfactant cations have been prepared at room temperature and under mild hydrothermal conditions, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the materials have interlayer distances of 34 and 28 Å. The oxidation state of Mo in the compounds is +4 whereas the sulfur exists as S2−, S2− and S22− species. The inorganic layers of MoS-L-A and MoS-L-B are composed of negatively charged molybdenum sulfide with the negative charges being balanced by the cetyltrimethylammonium cations intercalated between the inorganic layers.