Scalable synthesis of WS2/BN nanocomposites with enhanced thermal stability and superior photoluminescence properties

Here, we fabricated boron nitride-encapsulated tungsten disulfide (WS 2 /BN) nanocomposites with uniform needle-like (NL), fan-shaped (FS), and flaky (F) morphologies via liquid-phase reduction–hydrothermal activation followed by high-temperature sintering, systematically tuning raw materials and surfactant polarity. Their morphology, BET surface area, thermal stability, and photoluminescence depend strongly on these two parameters. Among the three nanocomposites, NL-WS 2 /BN exhibits the highest thermal stability, significantly surpassing that of pristine WS 2 . Optical analyses reveal strong interfacial coupling between BN and WS 2 , leading to an emission redshift and nearly an order-of-magnitude enhancement in photoluminescence intensity relative to WS 2 . This work provides a solid foundation for understanding morphological control in coated or encapsulated transition metal dichalcogenides (such as WS 2 ) and highlights their potential for applications in photoluminescent sensing, optoelectronics, and high-temperature oxidative environments.