Synthesis of highly destacked ReS2 layers embedded in amorphous carbon from a metal-organic precursor

•Highly destacked ReS2 layers embedded in amorphous carbon were synthesized.•The novel synthesis involved the sulfidization of an (Oct4N)ReO4 precursor.•Amorphous carbon act as a structural stabilizer in the final composite.

In the current study, a new approach to the synthesis of highly destacked ReS2 layers embedded in amorphous carbon via the thermal decomposition of a tetraoctylammonium perrhenate precursor, under sulfidizing atmosphere (15% v/v H2S mixture H2S/H2 gas), is described. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the thermolysis product confirm the formation of rhenium disulfide. The synthesized compound is found as single layers with a minor proportion of few-layer arrangements, embedded in amorphous carbon. X-ray diffraction, UV–visible diffuse reflectance, and thermogravimetry analysis were made in order to characterize the metal-organic salt precursor, showing that the perrhenate ions are dispersed widely from each other in the matrix of the organic cations, forming an inorganic-organic salt. The special arrangement of these ReS2 layers has a potential use as a heterogeneous catalyst due to the high proportion of edge sites.