New Approach for Gas Phase Synthesis and Growth Mechanism of MoS2 Fullerene‐like Nanoparticles

Abstract

Inorganic fullerene‐like (hollow onion‐like) nanoparticles (IF) and nanotubes are of significant interest over the past few years due to their unusual crystallographic morphology and their interesting physical properties. The synthesis of inorganic fullerene‐like spherical MoS2 nanoparticles (IF‐MoS2) of 5–300nm in diameter was studied in the present work. This process is based on the previous formation of suboxide (MoO3−x) 5–300nm nanoparticles and their subsequent sulfidization. During the sulfidization process the overall geometrical parameters of the suboxide nanoparticles are preserved. The oxide nanoparticles were obtained in‐situ by the condensation of the evaporated MoO3 powder precursor. The condensation was provoked not by cooling (conventional method for nano‐size particle formation), but by a chemical reaction (partial reduction of the MoO3 vapor by hydrogen). In this case the vapor pressure of the product (MoO2) was much lower than that of the precursor (MoO3). Based on the comprehensive unde...