Figure 2.

(a) Change in the elastic moduli of SNCHs as the MoS₂ content varies, measured in a compressive mode. (b) Swelling properties of SNCH (MoS₂, 0.8 wt %) when immersed in water (blue) or DMF (gray). (c) Compressive stress–strain curve of SNCH (gray) and that after inclusion of the NIPAM (N-isopropylacrylamide) network (i.e., DNCH; sky blue). The inset depicts the preparation of DNCH from SNCH. (d) Swelling properties of DNCH with the NIPAM network when measured in water (blue) or DMF (gray). The inset shows the LCST behavior of DNCH (solid) and a sole NIPAM network (open). (e, f) Morphological studies on the composite hydrogels. (e) SEM images of dried networks from SNCH (top) and DNCH (bottom) after lyophilization. (f) XPS spectra for Mo 3d core level peaks (2H phase, orange; 1T phase, pink) obtained from SNCH (bottom) and DNCH (top).