Fabrication and characterization of molybdenum disulfide thin films for biosensing applications

Abstract

This study investigates the synthesis and structural properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) thin films optimized for next generation biosensing platforms. Using patented multi-beam pulsed-laser deposition (PLD), multi-layered MoS2 nanostructures were synthesized with high precision. Bulk-like films were first deposited on glass substrates to establish baseline material properties. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the high crystallinity and stoichiometric integrity of the films. For flexible biosensing applications, ultra-thin MoS2 films (2-4 nm) were deposited on Kapton substrates using shortened deposition cycles. A specialized masking technique enabled integration of a four-terminal copper electrode configuration for electrochemical measurements. Structural analysis confirmed that the nanoscale films retained the MoS2 phase. Preliminary impedance measurements show that the MoS2-on-Kapton structure functions as a highly sensitive capacitive platform, indicating that PLD-grown films provide a robust and scalable foundation for flexible, high-performance biosensing devices.