Tuning the surface morphology and multifunctionality of large-area monolayer MoS2 on a soft substrate

Surface properties of atomically thin 2D materials and their interactions with light are strongly influenced by their surface morphology. It is possible to generate highly crumpled 2D materials via transferring them onto a prestretched substrate and then releasing the prestrain. Here, we demonstrate that releasing the prestrain in simultaneous and sequential fashions yield lobulated and rectangular controlled crumpled MoS2 structures, respectively. These controlled and reversible crumpled structures for a monolayer 2D material were observed for the first time and studied with SEM and AFM. Tunable wettability and optical transmittance were obtained by creating buckled regions with height profiles that are 1000 times higher than the thickness of monolayer MoS2 film. Controlling the crumpled structures on MoS2 films can open up new avenues of study such as controlling the bioadhesion, stretchable and transparent electronics, as well as enhancing chemical reactivity.