Paleoclimate studies play a crucial role in understanding past and future climates and their environmental impacts. Current methodologies for performing highly sensitive elemental analysis at micrometre spatial resolutions are restricted to the use of complex and/or not easily applied techniques, such as synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence micro-analysis (μ-SRXRF), nano secondary ion mass spectrometry (nano-SIMS) or laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Moreover, the analysis of large samples (>few cm²) with any of these methods remains very challenging due to their relatively low acquisition speed (~1–10 Hz), and because they must be operated in vacuum or controlled atmosphere. In this work, we proposed an imaging methodology based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, to perform fast multi-elemental scanning of large geological samples with high performance in terms of sensitivity (ppm-level), lateral resolution (up to 10 μm) and operating speed (100 Hz). This method was successfully applied to obtain the first megapixel images of large geological samples and yielded new information, not accessible using other techniques. These results open a new perspective into the use of laser spectroscopy in a variety of geochemical applications.

Few-layer MoS2 films stay at the forefront of current research of two-dimensional materials. At present, continuous MoS2 films are prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. Herein, we present a cost-effective fabrication of the large-area spatially uniform films of few-layer MoS2 flakes using a modified Langmuir–Schaefer technique. The compression of the liquid-phase exfoliated MoS2 flakes on the water subphase was used to form a continuous layer, which was subsequently transferred onto a submerged substrate by removing the subphase. After vacuum annealing, the electrical sheet resistance dropped to a level of 10 kΩ/sq, being highly competitive with that of CVD-deposited MoS2 nanosheet films. In addition, a consistent fabrication protocol of the large-area conductive MoS2 films was established. The morphology and electrical properties predetermine these films to advanced detecting, sensing, and catalytic applications. A large number of experimental techniques were used to characterize the exfoliated few-layer MoS2 flakes and to elucidate the formation of the few-layer MoS2 Langmuir film.

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The oxidation of MoS2 with a simultaneous decrease of MoS2 content.

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