Synthesis, characterization and industrial applications of inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulfide nanoparticles

Abstract

The convenient and effective synthesis of inorganic fullerene like tungsten disulfide (IF-WS 2 ) nanoparticles was carried out using a horizontal quartz reactor. In this process, first trisulfide Tungstane (WS 3 ) was formed via a chemical reaction of tetra thiotungstate ammonium ((NH 4 ) 2 WS 4 ), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and hydrocholoric acid (HCl) at ambient temperature and pressure. Subsequently, WS 3 was reacted with hydrogen (H 2 ) at high temperature (900–1100°C) in a quartz tube. The produced WS 2 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The characterization results indicated that the IF-WS2 nanoparticles were produced in the range of 50–78 nm. The produced tungsten disulfide nanoparticles can be applied in different industries as superior solid lubricants, electron devices, catalysts, hydrogen storage bodies, super shock absorbers and photosensitive films.