“…ReX 2 (X = S, Se), as a member of Group VII-TMDs, possesses a thermodynamically stable semiconducting phase with 1T′ and 1T″ structures, depending on the coordination modes between the Re metal and chalcogen atoms. − Compared to thermodynamically stable 1T′ phase ReX 2 , 1T″ phase ReX 2 shows superior performance for energy conversion and storage due to the low charge transfer resistance of the high conductivity. − Although the phase-engineered syntheses of 1T″ ReX 2 from the 1T′ phase have been developed via the hydrothermal reaction, , high pressure, and chemical exfoliation, the as-produced 1T″ ReX 2 domains are quite low, which limits the practical applications of ReX 2 . ,,, Interestingly, introducing strain by substitution doping into TMDs can directly alter the intrinsic interatomic distances and electron density, − thus creating an energy-favorable environment for bonding electrons, which may be a robust strategy for realizing the inherent properties and the structure transformation of metastable 1T″-phase Group VII TMDs.…”