Coating two-dimensional MoS₂ with polymer creates a corrosive non-uniform interface

Two-dimensional (2D) materials and soft materials are both susceptible to mechanical instabilities, such as buckling, wrinkling, folding and creasing, especially when located on surfaces. Here, we report that weak van der Waals interactions cause the interface between 2D molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) and a soft poly(methyl methacrylate) coating to demonstrate mechanical instability and delamination. The resulting non-uniform and buckled interface greatly hampers the ability of the coating to protect the MoS₂ substrate. Also, the corrosion rate of 2D MoS₂ and quench rate of intrinsic luminescence in 2D MoS₂ were significantly accelerated by the soft coating. Owing to the formation of corrosive cavities at the interface, the geometry and size of the flakes became the dominating factor, and a critical size of 2D flakes for such interfacial instability was determined based on elasticity theory. Such hazardous corrosion in a 2D material caused by a soft coating raises concern for their use in electronic packaging, and for the processing of van der Waals-layered materials for future applications.