Preparation of nested fullerenes and nanotubes of MoS2

Abstract

The gas-phase reaction between MoO3-x and H2S in a reducing atmosphere and at elevated temperatures (750° to 900°C) has been used to synthesize large quantities of an almost pure nested inorganic fullerene (IF) phase of MoS2. A uniform IF phase with a relatively narrow size distribution was obtained. The x-ray spectra of the different samples show that the van der Waals gap along the c-axis increases with decreasing average size of the IF, largely because of the strain involved in folding the lamella. Large amounts of quite uniform nanotubes were obtained under modified preparation conditions. The MoS2 nested fullerenes were also grown on Ti and Nb oxide substrates. In one set of conditions, hollow nested fullerenes of MoS2 were collected on a titanium oxide matrix. Under different flow conditions of the reacting gasses, nested fullerenes with endohedral metal oxides were obtained.