Illumination through shading: boosting photoactivity of light-absorbing materials by optically inactive coatings (opens in new tab)

We report the first-ever direct growth of a few layered graphene on WS2 nanotubes (NTs). This pioneering synthesis induced unprecedented electronic, optical, and electro-optical properties. By encapsulating WS2 NTs in graphene, a hybrid structure is created, combining the semiconductive properties of WS2 with the exceptional electronic properties of graphene. Photo-absorption spectroscopy identified distinct excitonic transitions in WS2 NTs and an additional π → π* transition in the hybrid st...