title: Hybrid chalcogenide nanoparticles: 2D-WS2 nanocrystals inside nested WS2 fullerenes.
abstract: The MOCVD assisted formation of nested WS2 inorganic fullerenes (IF-WS2) was performed by enhancing surface diffusion with iodine, and fullerene growth was monitored by taking TEM snapshots of intermediate products. The internal structure of the core-shell nanoparticles was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after cross-cutting with a focused ion beam (FIB). Lamellar reaction intermediates were found occluded in the fullerene particles. In contrast to carbon fullerenes, layered metal chalcogenides prefer the formation of planar, plate-like structures where the dangling bonds at the edges are stabilized by excess S atoms. The effects of the reaction and annealing temperatures on the composition and morphology of the final product were investigated, and the strength of the WS2 shell was measured by intermittent contact-mode AFM. The encapsulated lamellar structures inside the hollow spheres may lead to enhanced tribological activities.
authors: Institut für Anorganische Chemie und Analytische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55099 Mainz, Germany. tremel@uni-mainz.de.
authors: Faegheh
authors: F
authors: Hoshyargar
authors: Tomas P
authors: TP
authors: Corrales
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Branscheid
authors: Ute
authors: U
authors: Kolb
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kappl
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Panthöfer
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Tremel