Characterization of Nested Hollow Inorganic Fullerene-like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles Prepared by Solid-Gas Reaction

Non-carbon inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanoscale materials have recently attracted intense interest due to their nested hollow and nanotube structures. In this letter, IF-WS2 nanoparticles prepared by solid-gas reaction were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the IF-WS2 nanoparticles have a nested hollow closed spherical structure with diameter of 100-150 nm.

Molybdenum Disulfide Sheathed Carbon Nanotubes

Single and double layered MoS2-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) were successfully prepared by pyrolyzing (NH4)2MoS4-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes in an H2 atmosphere at 900℃. MoS2-coated MWCNs would be expected to have different tribological and mechanical properties compared to MoS2, so it may have potential applications in many fields.

Hydrophobic, mechanical, and tribological properties of fluorine incorporated hydrogenated fullerene-like carbon films

Fluorine-incorporated hydrogenated fullerene-like nanostructure amorphous carbon films(F-FLC)were synthesized by employing the direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition(dc-PECVD)technique using a mixture of methane(CH4),tetra-fluoromethane(CF4),and hydrogen(H2)as the working gases.The effect of the fluorine content on the bonding structure,surface roughness,hydrophobic,mechanical,and tribological properties of the films was systematically investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),Raman analysis,atomic force microscope(AFM),contact angle goniometer,nano-indenter,and reciprocating ball-on-disc tester,respectively.The fluorine content in the films increased from 0 to 2.1 at.%as the CF4 gas flow ratio increased from 0 to 3 sccm,and incorporated fluorine atoms existed in the form of C-FX(X=1,2,3)bonds in the film.The fullerene nanostructure embedded in the hydrogenated amorphous carbon films was confirmed by Raman analysis.The water contact angle was significantly increased because of fluorine doping,which indicates that the hydrophobicity of the carbon films could be adjusted to some extent by the fluorine doping.The hardness and elastic modulus of the films remained relatively high(22 GPa)as the fluorine content increased.Furthermore,the friction coefficient of the carbon films was significantly reduced and the wear resistance was enhanced by fluorine doping.

Synthesis of WS_(2)and MoS_(2)Fullerene-Like Nanoparticles from Solid Precursors

Inorganic fullerene-like WS_(2)and MoS_(2)nanoparticles have been synthesized using exclusively solid precursors,by reaction of the corresponding metal oxide nanopowder,sulfur and a hydrogen-releasing agent(NaBH4 or LiAlH4),achieved either by conventional furnace heating up to~900℃or by photothermal ablation at far higher temperatures driven by highly concentrated white light.In contrast to the established syntheses that require toxic and hazardous gases,working solely with solid precursors permits relatively safer reactor conditions conducive to industrial scale-up.

Recent advances in the research of inorganic nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles

This minireview outlines the main scientific directions in tile research of inorganic nanotubes （1NT） and fullerene-like （IF） nanoparticles from layered compounds, in recent years. In particular, this review describes to some detail the progress in the synthesis of new nanotubes, including those from misfit compounds; core-shell and the successful efforts to scale-up the synthesis of WS2 multiwalt nanotubes. The high-temperature catalytic growth of nanotubes, via solar ablation is discussed as well. Furthermore, the doping of the 1F-MoS2 nanoparticles and its influence on the physiochemical properties of the nanoparticles, including their interesting tribological properties are briefly discussed. Finally, the numerous applications of these nanoparticles as superior solid lubricants and for reinforcing variety of polymers are discussed in brief.

Study on the covalence of Cu and chemical bonding in an inorganic fullerene-like molecule,[CuCl]_(20)[Cp^(*)FeP_(5)]_(12)[Cu-(CH_(3)CN)_(2)^(+)Cl^(-)]_(5),by a density functional approach

The electronic structure and chemical bonding in a recently synthesized inorganic fullerene-like molecule, [CuCl]20[Cp*FeP5]12[Cu-(CH3CN) + 2Cl?]5 has been studied by a density functional approach. Geometrical optimization of the three basic structural units of the molecule is performed with Amsterdam Density Functional Program. The results are in agreement with the experiment. Localized MO’s obtained by Boys-Foster method give a clear picture of the chemical bonding in this molecule. The reason why CuCl can react with Cp*FeP5 in solvent CH3CN to form the fullerene-like molecule is explained in terms of the soft-hard Lewis acid base theory and a new concept of covalence.

Electronic Response of Nano-sized Cages of ZnO and MgO to Presence of Nitric Oxide

We have performed a comparative theoretical study on the adsorption of nitric oxide （NO） on Zn12012 and Mgt2012 nanocages in terms of their energetic, geometric, and electronic properties. It has been found that NO adsorption on the MgO nanocage is energetically more favorable than that on the ZnO one. In contrast to the ZnO nanocage, HOMO-LUMO energy gap （Eg） of MgO one is dramatically decreased in the presence of NO molecule so that it is transformed from an intrinsic semiconductor （Eg≈5.00 eV） to a p-type one （Eg≈1.93 eV）. We have predicted that electronic and conductance properties of the Mg12012 nanocage are sensitive toward NO molecule, thus it may be potential candidate in detection of NO molecules.

Bonding in [CuNRR′]4 type clusters

Many polynuclear Cu(I) compounds have been synthesized, but the problem whether there is direct or no direct Cu-Cu bonding in these compounds is not clear. The electronic structure of [CuNRR′]4 type clusters was investigated by using density functional methods. The results of geometrical optimization are in good agreement with experiment, and the localization of MO’s shows that there are four Cu-Cu s bonds to form the square Cu4 ring in addition to the four bridging Cu-N-Cu bonds. A concept of the covalence of molecular fragments is proposed to describe the bonding in these clusters.