Thiols or thiolates can play several different roles in the 1T'-WS2 NML synthesis. They can either act as strong complexing agents for tungsten, thereby tuning its reactivity, or they can be an additional sulfur source, as previously discussed in the literature. Additionally, they can act as the main ligands stabilizing the NMLs in solution. In the injection mixture, oleylamine reacts with carbon disulfide at room temperature and produces oleylammonium dithiocarbamate, which decomposes at high temperature to oleylammonium sulfide (when injected into the reaction mixture). Tungsten hexachloride reacts with thiols in the reaction mixture and forms tungsten thiolate. The tungsten thiolate reacts in turn with oleylammonium sulfides to ultimately generate 1T'-WS2. At this point, tungsten thiolate can also thermally decompose into WS2. These hypotheses are tested in the following where a new protocol is developed using alkanethiols as the coordinating agents (detailed under Methods).