Mixed low-dimensional nanomaterial: 2D ultranarrow MoS₂ inorganic nanoribbons encapsulated in quasi-1D carbon nanotubes

Quasi-one-dimensional nanotubes and two-dimensional nanoribbons are two fundamental forms of nanostructures, and integrating them into a novel mixed low-dimensional nanomaterial is fascinating and challenging. We have synthesized a stable mixed low-dimensional nanomaterial consisting of MoS₂ inorganic nanoribbons encapsulated in carbon nanotubes (which we call nanoburritos). This route can be extended to the synthesis of nanoburritos composed of other ultranarrow transition-metal chalcogenide nanoribbons and carbon nanotubes. The widths of previously synthesized MoS₂ ribbons are greater than 50 nm, while the encapsulated MoS₂ nanoribbons have uniform widths down to 1-4 nm and layer numbers down to 1-3, depending on the nanotube diameter. The edges of the MoS₂ nanoribbons have been identified as zigzag-shaped using both high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations.