Enhanced Superhydrophobic Performance of BN-MoS Heterostructure Prepared via a Rapid, One-Pot Supercritical Fluid Processing.

Fabrication of highly crystalline BN-MoS heterostructure with >95% yield was demonstrated using one-pot supercritical fluid processing within 30 min. The existence of 20-50 layers of BN-MoS in the prepared heterostructure was confirmed by AFM analysis. The HR-TEM imaging and mapping analysis revealed the well-melded BN and MoS nanosheets in the heterostructure. The drastic reduction in XRD line intensities corresponding to the (002) plane and broadening of the peaks for the BN system over MoS indicated the effective exfoliation and lateral size reduction in BN nanosheets during SCF processing. Also, the exfoliated MoS nanosheets are preferentially exposed rather than BN nanosheets; consequently, the MoS nanosheets sturdily covered BN nanosheets in the heterostructure. The exfoliated BN and MoS nanosheets with nanoscale roughness make the surface highly hydrophobic in nature. As a result, the BN-MoS heterostructure showed superior superhydrophobic performance with high water contact angle of 165.9°, which is much higher than the value reported in the literature.