title: Synthesis of fullerene-like tantalum disulfide nanoparticles by a gas-phase reaction and laser ablation.
abstract: Motivated by the discovery of the C(60) molecule (buckminsterfullerene), the search for inorganic counterparts of this closed-cage nanostructure started in 1992 with the discovery of nested fullerene-like nanoparticles of WS(2). Inorganic fullerene-like (IF) materials have since been found in numerous two-dimensional compounds and are available in a variety of shapes that offer major applications such as in lubricants and nanocomposites. Various synthetic methodologies have been employed to achieve the right conditions for the constricted or templated growth needed for the occurrence of this new phase. In this study, IF-TaS(2) is produced from a volatile chloride precursor in the gas phase and in small yield by room temperature laser ablation both in argon and in liquid CS(2). For the gas-phase reaction, a high yield of IF nanoparticles was obtained between 400 and 600 degrees C with a low concentration of the precursor gas. The average size and the yield of the IF-TaS(2) nanoparticles decrease with temperature. Above 600 degrees C, IF nanoparticles were found in low yields and at sizes below 20 nm. The stability of the IF nanoparticles produced by the gas-phase reaction is discussed in the light of two existing theoretical models. Laser ablation in argon leads to IF nanoparticles filled with clusters of TaS(2). Agglomeration of the nanoparticles can be avoided by laser ablation in liquid CS(2).
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuffenhauer
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: Neng Yun
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Jin-Phillipp
authors.forename: Lucile
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joly-Pottuz
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popovitz-Biro
authors.forename: Reshef
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tenne
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005740:Gases; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013635:Tantalum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D004220:Disulfides; D037741:Fullerenes; D005740:Gases; D010087:Oxides; D013635:Tantalum; D001128:Argon; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide