The UV-Vis spectra of WS2 NMLs synthesized using different alkanethiols (dodecanethiol DDT, hexadecanethiol HDT, and octadecanethiol ODT) (Figure ) are characteristic of the pure metallic 1T' phase, as there is high absorption in the entire spectrum and no excitonic features. Comparing the absorption spectra with other studies supports the formation of pure 1T' phase. X-ray diffractograms (Figure ) further confirm that all the syntheses using alkanethiols yield phase-pure 1T' WS2 nanosheets (evidenced by the absence of 2H peaks, and especially at 32.8°).