MoS2FULLERENE-LIKE NANOPARTICLES AND NANOTUBES USING GAS-PHASE REACTION WITHMoCl5

Abstract

Inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanoparticles of MoS2were synthesized using gas-phase reaction starting from MoCl5and H2S . The IF- MoS2nanoparticles are spherical and in some cases faceted with diameters in general ranging between 20 and 80 nm. The IF- MoS2nanoparticles have large hollow cores, filled in some cases with amorphous material. Various parameters have been investigated to understand the growth and formation of the IF- MoS2nanoparticles. The parameters that have been studied include flow rates of the various carrier gases, temperature at which the reaction was carried out, time of the reaction and heating of the precursor material. The best set of conditions wherein maximum yields of the IF- MoS2nanoparticles are obtained have been identified. Additionally, annealing the as-obtained samples or heating them in a mixture of H2along with H2S improves the crystallinity and reduces the amorphous material filling in the core. Apart from the fullerene-like nanoparticles under certain experimental conditions nanotubes of MoS2have also been obtained nonetheless in small yields.