A novel route for the synthesis of nanotubes and fullerene-like nanostructures of molybdenum disulfide

The paper described the synthesis of nanotubes and fullerene-like nanostructures of MoS2 through a technically simple, rapid, and energy-efficient microwave-assisted synthesis technique, which involved the use of elemental sulfur dissolved in a mixture of monoethanolamine and hydrazine hydrate as the sulfide source. The microwave induced reaction between the molybdate with sulfide ions, in the presence of hydrazine hydrate in the reaction medium, resulted in the formation of gray colored powders of amorphous MoS2. The as-obtained powders were calcined at 600 degrees C for 2 h and characterized by different techniques. HRTEM analysis of the calcined samples indicated the formation of fullerene-like MoS2 structures when the starting solution mixture was irradiated with microwave for a period of 200 s, while on 600 s of irradiation of the same revealed the formation of folded sheets like MoS2 nanotubes. BET surface areas of the calcined samples have been measured and a plausible reaction mechanism for the formation of nanotubes and fullerene-like nanostructures of MoS2 has been proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.