Unprecedented Multifunctionality in 1D Nb1- xTaxS3 Transition Metal Trichalcogenide Alloy

Abstract

1D materials, such as nanofibers or nanoribbons are considered as the future ultimate limit of downscaling for modern electrical and electrochemical devices. Here, for the first time, nanofibers of a solid solution transition metal trichalcogenide (TMTC), Nb1- xTaxS3, are successfully synthesized with outstanding electrical, thermal, and electrochemical characteristics rivaling the performance of the- state- of- the art materials for each application. This material shows nearly unchanged sheet resistance (- 740 Ω sq- 1) versus bending cycles tested up to 90 cycles, stable sheet resistance in ambient conditions tested up to 60 days, remarkably high electrical breakdown current density of - 30 MA cm- 2, strong evidence of successive charge density wave transitions, and outstanding thermal stability up to - 800 K. Additionally, this material demonstrates excellent activity and selectivity for CO2 conversion to CO reaching - 350 mA cm- 2 at - 0.8 V versus RHE with a turnover frequency number of 25. It also exhibits an excellent performance in a high- rate Li- air battery with the specific capacity of 3000 mAh g- 1 at a current density of 0.3 mA cm- 2. This study uncovers the multifunctionality in 1D TMTC alloys for a wide range of applications and opens a new direction for the design of the next generation low- dimensional materials.Nanofibers of transition metal trichalcogenide, Nb1- xTaxS3 are synthesized with outstanding characteristics including: (i) stability of sheet resistance versus bending cycles tested up to 90- cycles and air- stability up to 60- days, (ii) breakdown current- density, (iii) thermal stability up to - 800 K, (iv) activity for CO2 reduction reaction, and (v) battery performance in high- rate Li- air system.